Keeping Your Apartment Cool This Summer

A cool and comfortable apartment is the perfect haven when you want to beat the heat this summer. There are many ways to keep your Boston apartment cool without overtaxing your cooling system. Cooling your apartment efficiently will reduce the environmental impact of your everyday life while ensuring you enjoy lower utility bills all season long.

Use Window Coverings

UV radiation from the sun can heat the air inside your home and affect your comfort during the summer. Your Alta At The Estate apartment includes window coverings for both decorative and functional purposes. Using your window covers during the morning and afternoon on windows that face south can cut down on the amount of direct sunlight you receive through your windows. Even closing the shades partway to allow some light inside will still reduce the amount of solar heating that affects your apartment.

Use Your Microwave

Using your stove and oven to cook can actually heat up your apartment. However, using your microwave won’t contribute heat to the ambient air. During the summer, consider using your energy-efficient microwave whenever possible to prepare meals and snacks. You’ll save energy while cooking and prevent excess heat from escaping into your home and affecting the indoor temperature.

Use CFLs

Normal incandescent light bulbs create light by heating a filament inside the bulb until it glows. As a result, these bulbs give off heat when they create light. Although this heating effect is small, it can add up when you have many lights on at the same time. Switching to compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, can save you money on your electric bill while also keeping your apartment cooler. CFLs don’t produce light via heat, so they also won’t contribute to heating inside your apartment, no matter how many lamps you are using at once.

Use Nighttime Ventilation

If you want to let fresh air into your apartment, the best time to do it is at night. Keep your windows and doors closed during the day, when the weather is more hot and humid. (It’s also a good idea to check the weatherstripping on doors and windows; let your apartment maintenance service know if weatherstripping needs to be replaced.) When the temperature drops at night, open your windows to allow fresh air to enter. Opening two windows at opposite ends of your apartment can create a cross-breeze that will help to cool you off naturally without the need for air conditioning or a fan.

Use Fans

Fans are a great way to make any room in your apartment feel cooler and more comfortable. Both ceiling fans and portable fans will achieve the same effect. It’s important to note that a fan only makes the room feel cooler by creating a breeze, rather than actually reducing the temperature inside. Turn fans on only while you are in the room and turn them off when you leave to save energy. Placing a fan in front of an open window at night can also help to create a cooling breeze to keep you more comfortable while you sleep.

Alta At The Estate is a luxury apartment community featuring high-end energy-efficient appliances, beautiful finishes, window coverings, and more in Watertown, MA. When you choose to live with us, you’ll enjoy chic modern finishes, easy access to outdoor activities and parks, and much more. Please visit us on the web, where you can explore our community and the surrounding neighborhood to discover the benefits of renting an apartment with us.