Living in South Florida, we are well aware of how hot it can be, with temperatures soaring into the 90s well into the fall holidays. While we love the fact that we live under year-round sunshine, we also find ourselves seeking shelter from the heat on a regular basis. Homeowners are tasked with keeping their houses cool, but rising utility bills can make constant A/C usage difficult. With an eye towards conservation, energy efficiency and economics, here are some of our favorite recommendations to help you achieve a cooler home without working your air conditioning even harder.

Make These Changes for a Cooler Home

  • Replenish Your Insulation: A Florida attic space can become exceptionally warm, and so keeping that hot air away and separate from your interior will maintain a cooler home. The best way to do this is to regularly check your attic insulation to ensure adequate coverage. Time, moisture and animals can all cause insulation to erode and deteriorate. Make sure your attic insulation is fresh and sufficient to maintain lower temperatures and give your A/C a break.
  • Get Creative with Cool Landscaping: One of the best ways to create a cooler home is to keep the sunlight (and thus the heat) from directly streaming in through every window. Because we have an extended growing season, it doesn’t take long for homeowners to cultivate shade trees or native plants to help shield windows or portions of your roof from the harshest daily sunlight. This will not only keep your home cooler, but can protect rugs and furniture from fading prematurely.
  •  Design for Window Coverings: Many people love the idea of abundant sunlight touching every corner of their home, but their A/C may struggle with keeping up with cooling the home all day, every day. It certainly can cost a lot to do so. If you don’t want to block the windows permanently with plants but want to keep your home cooler, the solution is simple. Integrating adjustable window coverings, from outdoor awnings to indoor drapes, is the perfect answer. Homeowners can block the sunlight during the most intense hours when they aren’t home or need to cool off, and open up when they want full sunlight.
  • Close Interior Doors and Air Vents: Many rooms in the house are not utilized during the day and, therefore, do not need to remain as cool as the busy areas. For instance, bedroom doors can remain closed during the day so that cool air does not have as much square footage to reach. You can also close vents in these rooms, so that the A/C is not forced through vents in spaces where no one is present.
  •  Employ Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans make people feel cooler, but they do not lower the room’s temperature. While this may surprise you, it is true. Therefore, rather than forcing the air temperature lower by cranking the A/C, try a ceiling fan to cool off during the heat of the day. Just remember to turn off the fan when you leave the room – because it does not lower the room temperature; it simply wastes electricity running when no one is present.

Design from the Ground Up

The above tips are useful for Sarasota homeowners who already have a home. But suppose you are building a new construction home with the help of an architect. In that case, you have many opportunities to create a cool, energy-efficient home by integrating design details specifically for this purpose. From cross-ventilation to cool roofs, many options exist for building a home that can better withstand our climate.

At JTL Studios, we have the expertise and inspiration you need to build a Sarasota home that is not only beautiful, but energy and cost-efficient. Call today for an initial consultation and to learn more.