Project: Green Living

In summer, does it happen to you that you have to go to your icebox several times every day? Do you often dream about living in Iceland when you are at home? Every summer, this is a common scenario that affects millions of homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere. We are bringing you some ideas on how to get ready for the next warm summer.

The easiest option: Air-conditioners

If you want to try to decrease the temperature inside your house, there are several ways how to do that. The conventional air-conditioner is probably the most effective, but also the most expensive solution. If this is your favourite option, then there are some practical tips to ensure you are getting the best value possible from your AC unit. First, choose a machine of the correct size according to the size of your house or flat. For a usual house with two bedrooms, a 5,000 btu AC is usually sufficient. The optimum spot for the machine is a window on the nort-facing wall of the building. This will ensure optimum conditions for the machine which will allow it to work more efficiently. There is a risk of house dust building up in the internal filters which would have negative impact on the performance of the machine, so make sure you clean the filters at least once a month. If you plan on leaving your house for more than one hour, then it is more economical to turn your AC off and to re-cool the space when you return.

Options for green-thinking customers

What if you are environmentally conscious and are against the use of these power-hungry appliances? There are more ways how to decrease the internal temperature of your house, even if you don’t want to contribute to global warming by pointless use of CO2 producing fossil fuels. We will begin with the top of your house and work downwards step by step.

Roof

You probably already know that heat is transferred through some materials quite easily and through some others not. For roofing materials, such as tiles or shingles, that is especially valid. It is essential to have the attic space insulated with good quality material and if you use 12 inch instead of 3 inch, you could possibly reduce the cost of cooling your house by up to 10 percent.

More tips and tricks are published in the Keeping your Toronto home cool article.

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