How Your Exterior Design Can Reduce Your Utility Bills

Are you moving to Cleburne, Texas, during the dead of summer? You’re probably not looking forward to the heat and costly utility bills. Instead of causing your family to sweat to trim down the AC bill, consider energy efficiency when you think about your exterior design. There are plenty of ways to design your home aesthetically and still save energy.

Block the Sun With Dark Window Treatments

Window treatments are not only for aesthetics; they’re also functional. Some colors are more energy efficient than others.

Darker curtains block more sunlight than lighter ones. You’ll appreciate the darker decor when sitting in your living room during the day as well as when opening your electric bill.

Deflect the Heat With a Light-Colored Roof

If you want a cool top, select a lighter color paint for your roof. Painting your roof a lighter color will help both your pocket and your air conditioning system. That’s because a lighter rooftop reflects the heat while a darker one attracts it. No one wants to draw more heat into their homes during summers in Cleburne.

Shade Your Home with Awnings

Lastly, lessen the sun’s intensity in the places in your home that are most affected by direct sunlight. Solar heat gain is the warmth that comes from the direct sunlight that filters into a room. Your south- and west-facing windows will attract the most heat.

Consider installing awnings on your windows. According to the Department of Energy, you’ll reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 77 percent. As a result, your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to keep your house cool.

Save yourself any surprises and get your HVAC system checked. The HVAC experts at Airmasters AC, Heat, Plumbing & Electrical will perform a 10-point check on your system so that you don’t have any hot surprises after you move in. Call us at 817-506-4682.

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