The Machine for Living: Keeping Cool

Turn down the thermostat to stay cool.  Turn it up to save energy.  What if you could somehow do both?

"It is all about changing how you think about staying comfortable," Dave Sykes said.  Dave is the CEO of Sykes Construction and knows all about spaces for living.

In fact, he and his associates refer to homes and buildings as "machines for living."

"We all want to be comfortable in our homes, no mater the weather outside," Dave continued. "But how many of us sleep with a blanket on their bed in summer with the thermostat set to a really cold setting?"

Dave goes on to say that by changing the paradigm for staying comfortable, we can save energy AND be comfortable.  Consider these ideas for keeping your home cool during our 100 degree day summers:

• Dress for inside the house.  That is, shorts and a t-shirt will allow for more of your skin to be exposed and allow for natural cooling.
• Turn up the thermostat and turn on the ceiling fan.  While the space will be warmer (saving you money by having less electricity powering the AC), the natural cooling of your exposed skin by the air circulated by the fan will keep you naturally cool with evaporative cooling.
• Consider the exterior shading by trees and other landscaping of your home.  Shading the outside keeps it cooler inside.
• Consider installing radiant barriers in your attic or installing an attic ceiling fan. By taking hot air outside of the attic or lowering the temperature of the air in the attic, it will take less energy to cool the house below the attic space.

"Put your blankets and comforters away," Dave said. "Thinking differently about how you keep comfortable and cool will safe you both energy and money and possibly relieve some stress."

For more information about The Machine for Living, contact Dave at 214-774-1146.

The DSKW Team