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Annie B. Bond

Hot Weather Window Tips

posted by Annie B. Bond Feb 27, 1999 8:53 pm
filed under: Healthy Home, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse
Hot Weather Window Tips
27 comments

Adapted from Real Goods Solar Living Source Book,edited by Doug Pratt and executive editor John Schaeffer.

The main source of heat gain through windows in the warmer months is from sunlight. Here are some tips for handling the sun that will help keep your house cool.


  • Install white window shades or mini-blinds. It’s a simple, old-fashioned practice. Mini-blinds can reduce solar heat gain by 40-50 percent.
  • Close south and west-facing curtains. Do this during the day for any window that lets direct sunlight in. Keep these windows closed, too.
  • Another good, old-fashioned solution is to install awnings. Awnings work best on south-facing windows where there’s insufficient roof overhang to provide shade. Canvas awnings are more expensive than shades, but they stop the heat on the outside of your building, and they don’t obstruct the view.
  • Hang tightly-woven screens or bamboo shades outside the window during the summer. They’ll reduce your view, but are inexpensive and stop 60 percent to 80 percent of the sun’s heat from getting to the window.
  • Plant trees or build a trellis. Deciduous (leaf-bearing) trees planted to the south or particularly to the west of your building provide valuable shade. One mature shade tree can provide as much cooling as five air conditioners (although they’re a bit difficult to transplant at that stage, so the sooner you plant the better).
  • Deciduous trees block summer sun, but drop their leaves to allow half or more of the winter sun’s energy to warm you on clear winter days.
  • Apply low-e films. Low-e films are thin metal coatings allow the shortwave radiation of solar energy to pass in, but block most of the long-wave thermal energy trying to get back out. Low-e films block most solar heat gain while transmitting most visible light. (See shop for supplies, below.)
  • Exotic infills. The other new technology commonly found in new windows is exotic infills. Instead of filling the space between panes with air, many windows are now available with argon, or krypton, exotic gas infills that have lower conductivity than air, and boost R-values. These inert gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, and are harmless even if the window breaks.

More on Reduce, Recycle & Reuse (226 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3248 articles available)

27 comments

Go to the Source

The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook

The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient technology for common folks.
-Whole Earth Review

From novices to pros, this book explains renewable energy and efficient building practices. Great reference to start design and cost estimation from each section. One of the best features of this book is the addition of the National Electric Code for RE systems. It's possible to pick a building material to build a house, design a solar electric system, decide on appliances, determine the use of a greywater system, and more from 562 pages. No more looking up pages on the net!buy now

27 comments

add your comment »
27 comments add your comment
Tia P.
  • Tia P. says
  • Aug 27, 2008 10:55 AM

You are right Jerry - evaporation is a cooling process, so as the water evaporates, it cools the air. That is the basis of how a swamp cooler works. However, this is only effective when the humidity is low. Adding evaporation to humid air makes it more humid and increases the perception of heat; in other words, it makes you feel hotter than it really is. That is why air conditioners are used in humid conditions - they remove humidity from the air instead by refrigerating it until the moisture condenses and literally falls out of the air. That is why air conditioning is so energy-consuming and expensive to operate.

Connie M.

Great tips! Thank you!

Jerry Juarez

I believe that when I water my grass around my house in the evening, the air cools all around the house. Maybe that's just me. But you all try it and let me know if I'm wright.

Ronald Dixon

Thanks for the tips.

Sandy Mcdeane

Thank you for these easy tips to save money! We all need to save energy and these really are do-able.

Terri V.

Good ideas!

Thomas Pirovano

Windows are cool and nice.

Deborah Mccormick

How true,I have blinds in all my windows and use them everyday.

Felisa W.

Outstanding information, will put this new founded knowledge to good use. Thank you!

Olga M.
  • Olga M. says
  • Aug 15, 2007 5:54 AM

very helpful

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Excerpted from the Real Goods Solar Living Source Book, edited by Doug Pratt and executive editor John Schaeffer.Copyright (c) 1999, Real Goods. Reprinted by permsision of Chelsea Green Publishing Company and Real Goods.

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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