Maintaining a cooler indoor environment in the summer can be a challenge for New England green home designers. Fortunately, there are several techniques that can cool your home without the need for increasing energy use or turning up the cooling system. Here are a few of those methods for your consideration:

• Keep sunlight out of your home: Sunlight coming through your home’s windows can cause excess heat in your indoor spaces and put additional stress on your cooling system. Use drapes, shades, or other window coverings to block excess sunlight streaming through your windows. Install awnings or other shading systems to prevent sunlight from getting to your windows. Consider adding solar-blocking window films or other treatments.
• Improve ventilation and air circulation: Install ceiling fans to improve air circulation and boost cooling. Make sure the fans are set to direct air currents downward into the room. The breezes will cool you and the air flow will also help re-circulate cool air that has settled near the floor. Consider installing a whole-house ventilation system to further improve air circulation.
• Don’t use heat-generating appliances during the day: Avoid using cooking stoves, ovens, clothes washers and dryers, and other heat-producing appliances during the day. This heat will raise indoor temperatures and decrease indoor comfort. Use these devices in the evenings or at night when outdoor temperatures have dropped.
• Close off unused rooms. By closing the doors to the rooms you don’t use during the day, it will keep cool air from permeating the spaces. This allows you a little more customization of what areas of the house you’d like to keep cooler.

Sage Builders LLC is a general contractor in Newton, MA, offering professional design-build, construction, and renovation services for Boston-area homeowners. Contact us today for more information that New England green home designers can use to maintain a cooler indoor environment.