In Orland Park, Illinois, the average year round temperature fluctuates from the low teens to the mid eighties.
It’s not unusual for temperature to drop well into the negatives or soar into the triple digits.
Along with long, cold winters and lots of snow, we get humid summers and frequent thunderstorms. It’s windy all year round. I grew up in Orland Park and still live there. While the weather is a challenge, I love the four distinct seasons. There is always something new to look forward to. The hot and muggy summers are followed by cool fall conditions with the gorgeous color of the changing leaves. I get excited to pick apples, grapes, zucchinis and squash. The winter offers the opportunity to go skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and snowboarding. While the cold weather sometimes seems endless, eventually the daffodils, tulips and robins show up in the spring. Because of the weather extremes, it’s necessary to both heat and cool my home. I have a forced air furnace and central air conditioner that circulate heated and cooled air to the different rooms by way of a duct system. Since the equipment works just about non stop, energy bills are always a concern. It’s important to tightly seal the home to prevent waste and minimize costs. I’ve caulked, weatherstripped and insulated. I’ve replaced windows and exterior doors. I’ve managed to create a very efficient thermal envelope. However, my efforts have also eliminated essential ventilation. For the health of the air quality, it’s necessary to introduce fresh air into the home. I’ve now installed a heat recovery ventilator that works to pull out the stale air and replace it with fresh.