4 Energy-Efficient Ways To Stay Cool Without A/C

Inflation is on the rise, and energy costs are up dramatically, meaning that for many people the cost of keeping cool have just gone up. A lot. And for San Diegans, the hottest part of the year is yet to come. While the rest of the country starts to cool off after the hottest month of August, San Diego temperatures tend to remain high all the way into October. Especially after last year’s heat wave and the accompanying strain on the energy grid that threatened blackouts across California, many San Diegans are wondering how they can stay cool while reducing their energy usage.

Low-Heat Habits

Perhaps the easiest to implement as well as one of the most effective ways to remain cool is to limit your use of heat-producing devices during the hot times of day. Every electronic device produces some amount of heat during its operation, but here are a few to especially watch out for:

·         Computers. Computers output a massive amount of heat during intensive operation. Your average desktop PC might have a CPU temperature of over 100 degrees during regular use. This temperature can spike even higher, with things like video games, graphics rendering, data reading and writing, and other things. High-end computers with powerful graphics cards can reach temperatures over 190 degrees. Computers are designed to vent that hot air out of the PC to avoid overheating, and that means shooting it out and into your house.

·         Game Consoles. Like computers, consoles like the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch contain powerful processors and graphics cards. These devices heat up quickly and after prolonged use, they can heat up a room by over 20 degrees.

·         Workout Equipment. The heat produced by workout equipment is twofold: first, the device itself produces heat from friction and electrical resistance, and then your body produces more heat from physical exertion. The best way to keep your home cool during your workout routine is to have your equipment in a room that you won’t be spending time in outside of your workout, such as a garage or an unused bedroom.

·         Ovens. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Ovens are designed to produce heat, and that’s exactly what we want to avoid. Ovens, and to a lesser extent stoves, produce a lot of heat while cooking. We recommend avoiding using stoves and ovens for an extended period of time, especially in the hot part of the day. Instead, you can try cooking outdoors! Summer is the perfect time of year to fire up a grill outside, that way you can cook without increasing the temperature inside your home.

Whole House Fans

Whole house fans are an excellent low-cost alternative to air conditioning. Rather than running a high-consumption air conditioner during the hottest times of the day, when energy demand is highest, whole house fans cool your home at night, when the outside temperature is low. They bring in cold outside air, equalizing the temperature inside your home with the nighttime air outside. This is especially efficient because the only appliance running is just a fan – an incredibly low-consumption alternative to air conditioning. Additionally, it runs at night, when demand for power is low, which can further cut down on your energy costs.

While it is not going to bring the arctic winds into your home like a conventional air conditioner might, it will make a noticeable difference- especially if you close your windows and blinds during the day and avoid running heat-emitting devices. A whole house fan is an efficient way to cool your house without the massive costs of an air conditioner. The best time to install a whole house fan is at the same time as a new roof, so the next time your roof needs work, ask us about a whole house fan!

Roofing

Roofing materials play a huge part in keeping your house cool. Beyond just aesthetic appeal, there are upsides and downsides to certain colors, including the ability of a shingle or tile to keep your home cool. Generally, light-colored materials do a better job of keeping out heat, because they will reflect more sunlight back into the sky. Choosing a “cool roof” material will also save you money on energy over time, working well in conjunction with the other methods in this article. In fact, these kinds of roofs will enhance the effects of a whole house fan by reducing the rate at which heat from the outside can creep back into your home. Even if you do choose to run air conditioning, choosing materials that reflect light can make sure you can run it at a lower intensity and less often, since your home will keep out heat naturally.

Beneath the shingles or tiles is a layer of underlayment, which is another important part of weatherproofing your roof. Underlayment provides a second layer of protection against the elements, including high temperatures. In fact, certain types of underlayment can create a radiant barrier – a barrier that heat will have trouble penetrating. Like more reflective tiles, these kinds of underlayment also augment the effects of the other methods here by making sure that cool air stays in your home for as long as possible.

Resilient Roofing is proud to be an Owens Corning Preferred Platinum contractor, which means that our teams are certified and backed by the manufacturer to know how to install these materials right, every time. If you’re interested in how roofing can keep your home cool, give us a call or contact us and we’ll give you a free consultation with one of our licensed experts on how we can help you stay cool in the next heat wave.

Insulation

We actually have a whole other blog post on Why Insulation Is A Big Deal, Even in Warm Climates, but to summarize, insulation can keep your home cool in hot weather just as it keeps your home warm in cold weather. Proper insulation hampers the ability of heat to transfer through your roof and your walls and into the spaces where you actually live.

Stay Cool, San Diego

Unfortunately, heat waves such as the one last week are going to continue to happen, so it’s important to keep it in mind when making decisions about your roof. When the time comes to replace your roof, you have the opportunity to dramatically improve your home’s cooling system, with little additional cost compared to air conditioning. Resilient Roofing is proud to have served the San Diego area for over 55 years, and we know firsthand how important it is to stay cool in the summer. Our team is licensed, insured, and ready to help you get your home ready for the next heat wave. Give us a call or fill out our contact form here for a free consultation with a roofing expert.