How To Use Passive Cooling To Reduce Strain On Your AC During A Heatwave
Posted on: 18 May 2017
If you want to reduce your energy consumption, think beyond just upgrading your HVAC. In addition to modern and efficient HVAC, there are things that you can do to keep your home cool. Passive cooling is a way to cool your home with designs that cool your home without mechanical cooling. The passive cooling includes things like ventilation with drafts and air currents or adding shade to keep direct sunlight out. Here are some of the passive cooling ideas that will help you reduce your reliance on your AC this summer to stay cool:
1. Valuable Shade Solutions to Keep Direct Sunlight Out and Stop Heat Gain
Shade is a valuable addition to your home that can stop heat gain and keep your home cool. Shade trees like big hardwoods are valuable additions to landscaping that may help. There are also solutions like arbors with vines that are full of foliage in summer to provide shade cover for windows. Another option you may want to consider is adding awnings and covers to areas of your home that get the most sunlight.
2. Cross-Ventilation to Create Air Drafts That Can Help Cool Your Home
Cross-ventilation is a system of cooling that can be seen in older architecture. An example of cross-ventilation is a breezeway, which is a design where the front and back entrances are adjacent to a wide hall through the center of the building. You can do the same in your home by opening the front and back doors when the temperature is cooler outside. To get the most from cross-ventilation, open windows and doors that are adjacent to each other.
3. Convection Currents That Will Allow Heat to Escape and Keep Your Home Cool
Convection currents happen with natural heat convection, which is caused by heat rising. This effect can be used to cool your home and is used in some home designs. If you are remodeling or renovating your home, a solar tower with ventilation at the top will allow heat to escape. Another improvement to take advantage of heat convection is installing skylights, which when opened, will allow the heat to escape your home. Opening higher windows will also allow heat to escape and help cool your home.
Passive cooling will help reduce strain on your AC, but during the hottest summer heatwaves, you will still want your cooling systems to work. Contact an HVAC contractor to help with maintenance and repairs to ensure your AC is working when you need it most. For more information on staying cool in the summer, check out a website like http://www.rbincorporated.com/.
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