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#heat #hacking a random thread. If it cools down enough at night, open all your windows and vent out your house (smoke/dust allowing). Close all windows/drapes in the morning before the sun comes out. 1/x
#heat #hacking Add additional insulation to your attic (best done in winter/cool weather, easy) - usually, rebates are available, making this very affordable. Older homes usually are *way* underinsulated. 2/x
#heat #hacking It might make sense to "pre-cool" your house if you have A/C early in the day/early morning, when your A/C does not have to work as hard to remove heat, delaying when it kicks on later (depends on your insulation - also helps keep load off grid at peak 3/x
#heat #hacking If you can, plant trees on the west or south side of your house. One study of homes in Sacramento showed that trees on the west and south sides of a house reduce summertime electricity use by 5.2% 4/x https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037877880900005X
#heat #hacking If you have a south or west facing window (or any window) which tends to collect heat into the house, a temporary/quick fix is to cut out a piece of reflective insulation (Reflectix or other brands) to fit that window; reduces heating dramatically (!!). 5/x
#heat #hacking Reflective insulation is designed for attics, and you can also use it there... but it's an awesome quick hack for rooms which get too much sun. Also great for RVs, too. 6/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking A patio cover (or sunshade) can dramatically reduce the amount of heat absorbed into your house, if you place it in the right location. Make sure you paint it a light color (i.e. white). 7/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking Having well watered plants in your yard can help reduce the peak summer temperatures by 2–9°F there, through evapotranspiration (yes, uses water, but cools things down) 8/x https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands
#heat #heatwave #hacking Installing or retrofitting your roof to be a "cool roof" with highly reflective paint/tiles/etc. can dramatically reduce how much heat is absorbed by your house (and your neighborhood) 9/x https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/design/energy-efficient-home-design/cool-roofs
#heat #heatwave #hacking Another relatively easy retrofit to help cool your house is a whole house fan, which can (sometimes) serve as a substitute for A/C in some climates. 10/x https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-and-cool/home-cooling-systems/cooling-whole-house-fan
#heat #heatwave #hacking Sometimes, you have to have A/C, but have an old house; the solution might be a window A/C unit for a small room you can close off tightly (ie bedroom), not ideal, but better than nothing 11/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking I was amazed it works so well, but using reflective ceramic paint additive (mixed with normal house paint) on the West side of my house has significantly reduced absorption of late afternoon heat (the ones I use are from Hytech Sales, small co.) 12/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking If you're into DIY, build a portable "AC" out of a cooler, fan, and a piece of PVC pipe: works best with ice, but water works too. Bonus: you can use a 12V computer fan, battery/solar power if you have no AC 13/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking Ceiling fans can help decrease need for air conditioning--to a point--and people tolerate higher temperatures when those fans are running. 14/x http://www.calmac.org/publications/SDG&E%20Ceiling%20Fan%20Final%20Report%20(092002).pdf
#heat #heatwave #hacking If you're investing in home upgrades, double (or triple) paned windows can really help with keeping your house cool. (also helps with wildfire safety). That said, vinyl windows might not be great in a wildfire (some crack under heat of wildfires). 15/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking One personal favorite of mine, if you can (critters and crime rates allowing), vent out your garage in the evening so you have some cool thermal mass in there overnight. 16/x
#heat #heatwave #hacking Not practical, but I like the idea of Scotty's Castle (in @DeathValleyNPS) where they had an indoor fountain built into a wall which helped cool the air 17/x
