The Arizona summer is an intense experience defined by triple-digit temperatures and scorched hot air that’s burning your lungs. The desert sun is unforgiving, hitting anyone who dares to walk outside in the afternoon with 104°F and 107°F on the daily.
During heatwaves, temperatures go even higher, routinely hitting 110°F to 115°F, especially in July. So, how do people face such a climate? After all, Phoenix is a thriving metropolitan area, with lots to offer.
The answer is a combination of proper HVAC equipment, shade, timing, airflow, and other tried-and-tested methods that keep homes comfortable. Today, we’ll have a look at these home cooling habits, so stay tuned.
1. Optimize Your Home’s Nighttime Routine
During the night, the air gets cooler, which makes it the perfect time to open doors and windows and allow built-up heat to escape.
To speed things up, try to create the Venturi effect with your windows. On the windward side (where the breeze hits), open windows only slightly to increase incoming air velocity. On the downwind side, open windows wide. As wind blows over the home, it creates a low-pressure zone that actively pulls warm interior air out.
For even better air circulation, install high vents and whole-house fans. They pull air through open windows and expel it through the roof, which also helps ventilate your attic.
2. Energy-efficient Appliances and Lighting
Appliances and artificial lighting create heat when in operation. Your fridge literally extracts heat from inside the unit and dumps it into the room. Dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers all radiate heat every time they’re doing their jobs.
Certain types of lightbulbs heat up and radiate that energy around them. Halogen recessed lights, for example, can increase the temperature of a small space by 15 degrees Fahrenheit in just one hour.
While this may not be enough to heat a room during winter, you do feel the difference when it’s 107°F outside. To make sure you’re not adding to your discomfort, opt for energy-efficient LED or fluorescent lights and choose appliances with high energy efficiency ratings (they produce less heat).
3. Learn How HVAC Systems Work
If you’re living in an area where the temperatures are measured in triple digits 130+ days of the year, you should know a thing or two about the system that’s keeping your house livable. HVAC systems work hard in the Phoenix area, and this is made clear by the increasing energy bills.
The good news is that, with a bit of technical training, you can learn how to install and optimize HVAC systems to keep costs down without sacrificing comfort. Unsurprisingly, one of the most sought-after vocational programs in Phoenix is the HVAC/Refrigeration one. Students learn how to install, maintain, repair, and work with these systems, which is extremely valuable information for any homeowner.
Besides being able to evaluate and optimize your own home system, you’ll be able to recognize the signs of failure and do something about it before things go too far.
4. Live in the Shade
Under the unforgiving Arizona sun, your windows need curtains, blinds, and shades to keep the heat outside. The most efficient are honeycomb shades. Their stacked, air-trapping accordion cells act as a physical buffer that prevents heat from transferring off the glass into living spaces.
Also, blackout roller shades, made from opaque fabrics that block direct sunlight and radiant heat transfer, are perfect for bedrooms or on west-facing windows. For an added layer, use synthetic composite wood shutters as well. They have high insulation value and resistance to UV warping or cracking.
Shading can also come from the outside, depending on how you use the vegetation surrounding the house. Phoenix locals native trees like Chilean and Velvet Mesquites or Desert Ironwood. These are fast-growers with large, dense canopies that block intense afternoon sun.
5. Embrace Light Colors
If you’re new to Phoenix, you might be surprised by the different shades of beige on homes. This is not because locals have a special love for beige; it’s because the color doesn’t absorb heat.
Darker colors on exterior walls and roofs take in around 90% of the sun’s radiant energy, and then transfer it inside. On the other hand, light colors like white, blue, cream, and yes, beige, are the perfect sun heat repellents.
Home Cooling as an Art
People living in hot, desert-like climates have learned that home cooling is about more than just a functioning AC unit. While a working, optimized HVAC system is essential, it helps to understand how heat is created and transmitted, and how to use airflow to your advantage. Overall, cooling one’s home without sky-high energy bills is an art.
Post a Comment