Energy Conservation Tips: Summer Time

Beyond saving money, energy conservation is one of the easiest ways to help the environment.

In the summertime, the sun shining through your windows heats up the room. Windows with spectrally selective coatings on the glass reflect some of the sunlight, keeping your rooms cooler.

Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.

Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.

Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain.

Energy Conservation Tips: Summer Time

Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect heat back into the room during the winter months.

Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce your heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.

Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.

Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.

Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to maximize solar gain.