In Phoenix, AZ, the summers are brutally hot & dry, while the winters are short however cold, the temperature dips down into the low forties, requiring heating for about four or five months.
They also climb into the triple digits for several months straight & necessitate air conditioner for more than half the year.
The cost of keeping a comfortable apartment is significant… While I appreciate the Phoenix area, I am not glad about paying immense utility bills, i’ve made it my mission to tighten the thermal envelope, eliminate energy waste & reduce expenses! One of the major sources of heat gain & loss are the windows & doors. The sun through the glass can abruptly heat up a room & add to the demands of the cooling system; Plus, UV light can fade upholstery & rugs. In the winter, there is potential for heat loss due to air leaks & complications with frosty glass. While the investment was sizeable, I had Energy Star windows & doors installed in the house. I made sure to meticulously caulk & weatherstrip around them. I further added smart blinds that I have programmed to open & close at particular times, then closing the blinds during sun hours over the summer time has made a considerable difference to my electric bills. Opening them to welcome in the warmth of the sun on winter afternoon contributes to greater comfort & lower heating costs. I’ve also begun to install ceiling fans in the main rooms. The direction of the fan works to either supply a cooling effect or distribute heat that becomes trapped near the ceiling.