Keeping your home cool without racking up huge energy bills in California is always a challenge. Keeping your home cool, while you’re in it all day working, next to impossible! While many businesses have begun to return to normal office hours, some have opted to leave stay at home as an option for their employees. If you’re one of those people working from home, the pros at Grizzly HERS Testing have created a list of ways to keep your home cool while working from home without breaking the bank.
- Keep The Air Moving
- Cover Windows
- Stay Hydrated
- Work On Lower Floors
- Limit Physical Activity
Keep The Air Moving
While ceiling and box fans do not actually lower the temperature of your home, they give your body a sensation of being cooler than it actually is. When strategically placed, a nice fan can help keep you comfortable without using a ton of energy. If your budget allows, installing a whole house fan is a great option. This type of fan is installed in your attic and actually draws the hot air out of your home. This is great for moving the air around your home as well as lowering the temp.
Cover Windows
One of the easiest ways to lower the temperature in your home while working from home during Covid is with proper window coverings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Window coverings can reduce energy loss through the windows, lower heating and cooling bills, and improve home comfort. About 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. Most types of window treatments will result in energy savings, but the exact savings will depend on the type of attachment, the season, the climate, and how the attachment is used.”
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water throughout the day is always important, especially when you are exposed to high temperatures. It may seem simple enough, but remembering to drink enough fluids while balancing the responsibilities that come with working from home can be difficult. Setting a reminder on your phone is a great and easy way to ensure you get enough fluids each day.
Work On Lower Floors
Since heat rises, the lower levels of your home will naturally be colder than the upper floors. Setting up your workspace in a downstairs area is a great way to limit your heat exposure. If your home has a basement, this will likely be the coolest area of your home. If possible, set up your workspace there during the peak heat hours of the day.
Limit Physical Activity
Working from home presents the interesting challenge of blending work with home life. Because of this, it is more likely for those working from home to utilize work breaks to handle things around the house. Try to limit chores or other physical activity to the early morning or evening hours when the temperature is cooler and you’re less likely to overheat.
The bottom line is depending on where you live in California, there may not always be a “cheap” option for cooling your home. When temperatures start to reach the high double and low triple-digit numbers, air conditioning may be your only option for staying in a safe temperature range. When this is the case is it essential your equipment is performing to the standards it was designed. Our Residential HERS Testing services can take the guesswork out of the process and give you the information you need to ensure your home is as efficient as possible. If you have questions about our services or would like to learn more about how HERS Rating can save you money on your energy bill, give us a call today!
