Okanagan summers bring real heat, and staying comfortable indoors is about more than cranking the air conditioning. A few well chosen home upgrades keep things cooler, ease the load on your cooling system, and cut your energy bills at the same time.
Block the Heat Before It Gets In
The easiest heat to deal with is the heat that never enters. Exterior shade from a pergola, awning, or well placed trees, along with quality window coverings, stops the sun before it bakes your rooms. Addressing the outside of the glass makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
Put Ceiling Fans to Work
Ceiling fans make a room feel several degrees cooler for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. Adding fans to bedrooms and living areas, wired in properly, lets you stay comfortable while easing the demand on your cooling system. This is work we handle in house.
Seal and Insulate
Cool air escaping through gaps and poorly insulated spaces makes any cooling system work harder. Sealing leaks around windows and doors and improving insulation, especially in the attic, keeps the cool air where you want it and pays off in winter too.
Rethink Sun Exposed Spaces
Rooms on the south and west sides take the brunt of the afternoon sun. Better windows, added shade, and thoughtful design can make a room that was once unusable in summer comfortable again. Sometimes the fix is a renovation that solves the problem for good.
Plan Cooling Into Renovations
If a bigger project is on the horizon, it is the perfect time to build in comfort. Coordinating shade, insulation, electrical, and any cooling upgrades as one plan gives a far better result than tackling them piecemeal down the road.
Build a cooler, more comfortable home
From shade structures and ceiling fans to insulation and full renovations, Verum Innovations can help you build a cooler, more comfortable home.
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