In Phoenix, AZ, the summers are brutally warm as well as dry, while the winters are short however freezing, the temperature dips down into the low forties, requiring heating for about four or five months.
- They also climb into the triple digits for multiple months straight as well as necessitate air conditioning for more than half the year.
The cost of keeping a comfortable home is significant, while I appreciate the Phoenix area, I am not cheerful about paying immense energy costs! I’ve made it my mission to tighten the thermal envelope, eliminate energy waste as well as reduce expenses, and one of the major sources of heat acquire as well as loss are the windows as well as doors. The sunlight through the glass can suddenly heat up a room as well as add to the demands of the cooling system, however plus, UV light can fade upholstery as well as carpets. In the winter, there is potential for heat loss due to air leaks as well as problems with cold glass. While the investment was sizeable, I had Energy Star windows as well as doors installed in the house. I made sure to meticulously caulk as well as weatherstrip around them. I further added smart blinds that I have programmed to open as well as close at particular times, 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 time afternoon contributes to greater comfort as well as 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.