North Texas residents are all too familiar with summer heat. Every year, we close the blinds, shut the blackout curtains, crank up the air conditioner, and invest in cold cotton sheets! It’s these small things that can make the house a little cooler and summer a little more tolerable.
Did you know that by making small changes throughout the home can make a drastic difference in the temperature of your home, all while reducing your energy bill costs? Here are some tips and tricks to reducing your home’s heat.

Cool Roof

One of the most obvious ways to reduce heat through the roof system is by investing in a cool roof. This innovative technology is designed to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat. Cool roofs are accomplished by using a highly reflective type of paint, tiles, or shingles. Though cool roofing solutions are more prominent in commercial structures, there are residential treatments that can be applied to your home to reduce your energy costs and the heat of your home.

Insulation

Insulating your attic can make a huge difference in the temperature of your home. If your attic is hot, your home will be hot, too. Allow an expert to install the proper insulation to your attic.

Tree Shade

Planting a tree in front of the direct sunlight your home receives will act as a barrier to your home. Allow the tree to absorb the heat instead of your brick. A tree in bloom can block about 70 percent of solar radiation from entering your home. And, they add gorgeous landscaping to your yard—it’s a win-win.

This tip can obviously take time to establish, so think ahead. Also be conscious of how close you plant a tree to your home, because once the tree is established, you don’t want it to affect your foundation. Some plants that help provide shade include crape myrtle trees, dwarf fig trees, and mimosa trees as well as banana plants, sunflowers, palms, and lemon grass.

Window Shades

We already have blackout curtains and blinds. But consider the benefit of window shades on the exterior of your home. Having this helpful shade can make a huge difference in the temperature of your home. Exterior window shades are designed to block the heat while still allowing light through.

Shut Doors

Regardless of the size of your home, when you have an entire house to cool in the heat of summer, your air conditioner is working overtime. To prevent stress to your A/C, shut the doors of rooms you’re not using. This alleviates pressure on your A/C unit, keeps the room you’re occupying cooler, and reduces your energy bill.

Make small changes to your summer lifestyle and you’ll notice a difference in the temperature of your home as well as your energy bill.