Keep Your House Cool – and Save on Air Conditioning!
Summer in the Savannah, GA area arrives fast — and when temperatures climb into the 90s and above, keeping your home cool can feel like a full-time job. But you don’t have to rely on blasting the A/C to stay comfortable. With a few smart strategies, you can keep indoor temps down and save on energy costs at the same time. Here are our favorite cooling tips for getting through the summer heat.
Work Your Windows
Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat entering your home — up to 30% of unwanted heat gain can come through glass alone. To reduce the impact:
- Add insulated or tinted window film to south- and west-facing windows.
- Keep blinds or shades closed during peak sunlight hours.
- Use blackout drapes in light colors to reflect radiant heat.
If you have double-hung windows that open from the top and bottom, try this airflow trick: open the bottom sash on the upwind side of your home and the top sash on the downwind side. This creates a cooling cross-breeze that helps hot air escape.
Sleep Smart
A cooler night’s sleep can make summer much more bearable. Try transitioning your bedding to lightweight cotton sheets and breathable covers. A few other nighttime cooling ideas include:
- Using a cooling pillow insert or gel pad.
- Switching to buckwheat pillows, which promote airflow.
- Chilling a water bottle in the freezer and placing it at your feet under a towel.
- Misting your sheets lightly with cool water before bed.
If evening temperatures dip enough, open your windows to let fresh night air circulate through your home instead of running the A/C.
Be Your Own Biggest Fan
Fans don’t lower the temperature of a room, but they make you feel cooler by moving air across your skin. Combine fans with simple hacks for maximum impact:
- Set ceiling fans counterclockwise to push cool air downward.
- Place a bowl of ice or an ice pack in front of a box fan for a DIY cooling booster.
- Turn on bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to pull hot, humid air out quickly.
Make Smart Cooking Choices
Using your oven or stovetop warms your home faster than you might think. In the summer, try to shift meal prep away from heat-producing appliances. Great alternatives include:
- Grilling outdoors
- Using slow cookers or pressure cookers
- Preparing no-cook meals like salads, wraps, and chilled dishes
Update Your Lighting
If your home still has incandescent bulbs, consider replacing them with LED or fluorescent options. Traditional bulbs give off a surprising amount of heat, raising room temperatures and increasing your cooling costs.
Rethink Appliance Use
Large appliances give off heat, too. Running your washer, dryer, or dishwasher during cooler hours — early morning or late evening — helps prevent unnecessary warming inside your home. And if you don’t already have one, a programmable thermostat can help keep your home at the ideal temperature while also lowering energy usage.
With just a few simple adjustments, you can create a cooler, more comfortable home all summer long — without relying on your air conditioner to do all the work. At Ernest Homes, we're proud to build energy-efficient homes designed to keep you comfortable year-round.
