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There’s one good thing you can say about air conditioning. It sure helps people deal with the Texas heat. There’s just one problem. Cooling bills can get expensive, especially when the thermometer goes over 100. There are several ways you can keep new homes in McKinney TX cool without setting your A/C on full blast. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Keep your blinds closed. Believe it or not, up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows. If you close your shades and curtains, you can save up to 7 percent on your energy bills, and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. It’s an easy way to prevent your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, especially for south- and west-facing windows.

2. Be smart about door usage. When you close off unused rooms during the hottest part of the day, you will prevent the cool air from getting in these areas. At night, it’s ok to open the doors back up, since you can capitalize on the cooler night hours, and let air flow naturally through your home.

3. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise. You may not know this, but your ceiling fans should be adjusted seasonally. When you set them counter-clockwise in the summer at a higher speed, the airflow produced creates a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you and your family “feel” cooler.

4. Turn on bathroom fans, and your kitchen exhaust fan. These room fans help pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower. Don’t let the cooler air escape. Make sure windows, doors and cracks are properly caulked up.

5. Replace incandescent light bulbs. Need motivation to ditch your incandescent bulbs in favor of CFLs? Making the switch is a brilliant idea, since incandescents waste about 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit. If you replace them, you’ll see a small difference in cooling your home, while lowering your electric bill.

6. Start grilling. Stop slaving over a hot stove or oven. It just makes your house hotter. Enjoy your Shiloh Lakes patio by firing up the grill for a backyard barbecue.

7. Make a few long-term improvements. You could also plant trees or vines on or in front of light-facing windows to shield your home from the sun’s rays, and reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs.

Landon Homes helps to keep new homes in McKinney TX cool by installing vinyl low E2-240 tinted glass windows. These windows block solar heat gain and maintain cool glass temperatures, while also reducing glare. Every Landon home includes a programmable thermostat too, which allows you to tailor your air conditioning (or heating) to your schedule. When set properly, programmable thermostats can save both energy and money. For more information about Landon’s new home communities in McKinney, visit our website or call toll-free at 866-898-3603.

This post was written by Landon Homes.