How To Use Mother Nature To Save On Your Energy Bills

Posted on Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

The best way to save on energy bills is to use less of it. But most of us can only sacrifice so much before using less is just as much of a burden as spending money. Besides changing your behavior, you can also invest in more efficient appliances and electronics, or you can actively protect your home from outside temperatures. Buying more efficient appliances and electronics will happen naturally as they break down, forcing you to buy something new. So how can you actively protect your house from the outside?

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The sun is the primary source of heat during the day. So if you want to keep your house cool during the summer, you can take a few easy steps to keep the sun’s heat from entering your home. One way the sun gets into your house is through thermal radiation. Proactively blocking the sun so that it never reaches your house is one of the best ways to prevent thermal radiation. Overhanging trees, tall shrubs, and other plants capable of blocking direct sunlight keep your house much more cool during the hottest hours of the day. Since plants can’t completely block all of the radiant heat, Radiant barriers can block 97% of the radiant heat, 50% of the total ceiling heat transfer, and new low-e windows can block the rest.

Another way outside temperatures enter your home is through conduction. Conduction can heat or cool your house through the walls and ceilings. Proper landscaping and home design can break wind for staying warm in the winter and provide shade for keeping cool in the summer. As a last line of defense, insulated vinyl siding can provide an extra barrier between your rooms and mother nature. Convection, or air transfer can be a mixed blessing in hot weather. During the hottest hours of the day, you can shut your house tight to maintain a cooler temperature. As it cools down, turn on ceiling fans and open up windows to get a cool crosswind through your house.

Knowing how to properly orient bushes and trees can add aesthetic appeal and insulation. Proper landscaping can make a dramatic impact on the temperature of your house. Using shading, wind, and the sun to your advantage can dramatically reduce your energy bills throughout the summer and winter. Consider how to use mother nature to save on energy bills, any ingenious use of wind, shade, and solar radiation will result in almost immediate energy savings.

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