As the temperature rises this week here in Wagga Wagga, so does the cost of cooling your home, especially if you constantly use an air conditioner. We all like to keep our homes cool and comfortable during summer; the good news is there are plenty of simple ways to improve the temperature inside your home, reduce your energy consumption and save some money along the way. Here are eight simple tips on how to beat the heat in your home this summer.

Insulation
Having your home well insulated can be up to seven degrees cooler in summer and save you as much as $300 a year in energy costs. When considering insulation the most important factor to consider is the R-value. The R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value the greater resistance to heat transfer, meaning greater energy savings.

Plant some trees
Planting trees is a great way to provide shade for your home in the future. Trees, large bushes, and vines can provide shade and cooling evaporation. When planting trees near your home it is important to consider its root system so it does not interfere with foundations of your home. Choose deciduous trees if you want to allow the sunlight to warm the house during winter. Properly planting trees around your home can save between $100 and $250 annually in cooling and heating costs, and daytime air temperatures can be 3 to 6 degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighbourhoods.

Turn off the light
This may seem very simple but, if you don’t need a light on turn it off! All light bulbs generate heat as a by-product of producing light. Compact fluorescent downlights produce less heat than halogen lights.

Evaporation
A cheaper alternative to an air-conditioner is an evaporative cooler. These devices cool the air through the simple evaporation of water. A fan draws in the warm air through wet filter pads. The heat evaporates the water, cooling and humidifying the air, then blowing it back into your home.

Fans
Instead of turning on the air-conditioner consider using ceiling or portable fans as these are considerably cheaper to run. Ceiling fans won’t reduce the temperature of a room but they will make your skin feel cooler. This is because your body’s cooling system is based on the evaporation of perspiration.
Handy tip: Ceiling fans with wooden blades are the best choice for bedrooms because they are quieter.

Cover up
A simple way to dramatically cool your home is to shade your windows. Sunny window can make your air-conditioner work twice as hard. White or light coloured curtains or blinds are a good idea as they draw heat away from the window. External blinds are twice as effective as internal blinds in blocking out the summer heat.

Fix the gaps
A quick way to reduce heat in your home is to fix any gaps or cracks. Up to 15 percent of your home’s heat will come in through gaps, with older homes particularly at risk. Sealing these gaps is the easiest way to keep the hot air out.

Routine service
On warm days many of us like to turn the air-conditioner on, which uses a lot of energy and are expensive to constantly run. It is important to ensure you conduct a routine service on your air-conditioner. Not only will your air-conditioner do a better job of keeping your home cool when it is properly cared for, but it will also use less electricity.  Without regular maintenance an air conditioner looses about 5 percent of its original efficiency for each year of operation.

We all have the ability to save energy and make a difference to our homes this summer. With these simple every day actions in mind you can save anergy and money at your home.