1. High LRV And Insulating Paints
Included in most paint descriptions, LRV (Light Reflectance Value) is a number that describes a paint’s reflective characteristics. This can be an important factor when choosing exterior and interior paint products. In the same way light colored fabrics help keep people cooler in summer, light tinted paints reduce the amount of solar heat gain on a home by reflecting rather that absorbing solar energy. You’ll see LRV referred to as a value from 5 to around 95. The higher the number, the more reflective—and effective—the paint will be.
Some paint products are also marketed as having insulating capability. Although the effectiveness claims for this insulating category of paint are still being investigated, recent research conducted by  EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse in cooperation with Washington State University found that using insulating paint produced up to a 20 percent drop in heat gain across areas directly exposed to sunlight. Use insulating paint to enhance rather than replace traditional home insulation products, though. Why? They have a limited effectiveness because they only work when the sun is shining directly on them.
2. Paint Your Roof A Light Color
Using color to help beat the heat works on a home’s roof, too. Light colored roofing materials are becoming more popular, especially in areas where the combined heat generated by a number of adjacent buildings can be significant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that high reflectance roofing can be up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than more traditional dark roofing options.
3. Add Climate Smart Landscaping
You already know a shady table is prime real estate on a hot, summer day. In fact, a shaded area can be up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the surrounding landscape. When positioned over a house, shade trees, tall shrubs and vines keep interior spaces cooler, too. A shade focused landscaping strategy (PDF download) can reduce your home cooling costs 15 to 50 percent. That’s not all: Trees help provide protection from freezing winter weather, function as effective wind breaks, increase a home’s curb appeal and support the local ecology.
4. Install Awnings
If you can’t rely on nature to help produce a little shade, supply your own. Adding awnings to west or south facing doors and windows will have some of the same benefits as adding shade through landscaping, only faster. Awnings have come a long way in the last few years. Sturdy polyvinyl chloride and other synthetic materials help make newer awnings more durable and less vulnerable to mold and mildew. Retractable awnings are also a popular choice, especially for windy locations.
5. Reassess Flooring
Your home’s interior has its own microenvironment, and your furnishings and fixtures contribute to the prevailing indoor atmosphere you enjoy summer and winter. Your carpeting is an excellent example: One big selling point for carpeting has been its ability to make a room feel warmer and cozier during the winter months. Although that’s true, synthetic carpeting also keeps a room hotter during the summer months. For maximum cooling, especially in southern facing rooms, prefer hardwood flooring, laminate or tile to wall-to-wall carpeting.
If you do use rugs, choose varieties made with natural materials like cotton, grasses like bamboo and wool. Wool may sound like an odd choice, but it can absorb up to 30 percent of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. This makes it a useful choice for humid locations.
6. Employ Cool Lighting Strategies
Even though incandescent light bulbs are becoming a thing of the past, not all modern lighting solutions are created equal. LED light bulbs are somewhat cooler than CFLs, and Energy Star lighting products are the most energy efficient on the market, often running cooler than the alternatives. Check your current light fixtures and swap out any incandescent or inefficient bulbs you may be using, especially in south facing rooms or in fixtures within close proximity to seating.
7. Install Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans agitate the air, creating enough of a breeze to produce a chilling effect on the skin. Installing a ceiling fan in your home won’t reduce the ambient humidity the way an air conditioner can, but it will make a hot room feel more comfortable. Ceiling fans aren’t seasonal indulgences, either. Most fans can change direction by flipping a switch on the housing. Depending on the direction of flow, the blades of a fan will pull hot air away from the occupied areas of a room in summer (counter-clockwise), or redirect hot air wafting toward the ceiling back down into the room in winter (clockwise).
8. Upgrade And Use Bathroom Fans
You probably already have at least one ceiling fan in your home. It’s located in your bathroom. Although this small fan isn’t a powerhouse when it comes to keeping your family cool, together with an open bathroom door, it can enhance the air circulation in your home. Even better, you can usually upgrade a bathroom fan to a more powerful model. Working in tandem with a couple of ceiling fans in nearby rooms, it will help vent and circulate stagnant, hot air.
9. Insulate Windows And Doors
When there’s a big difference between the temperature inside a home and the temperature outside, like in summer when the air conditioner is running, windows and doors are the most likely locations for environmental control problems. The good news is that many of the measures you take to keep your home cool in summer will also help keep it warmer in winter.
The goal is to create an effective barrier or screen between your indoor environment and the outdoors. There are a lot of ways to do this: Weather stripping is a good choice that’s also easy to install. It doesn’t stop there, though. Upgrading to double or triple pane windows, adding a storm door, installing interior or exterior shutters and adding reflective heat film to your windows are all measures you can take to keep the heat outside and the cool inside.
10. Use Window Coverings
Decorative window coverings can help keep your home cooler, too. On hot summer afternoons, close the drapes on the sunny side of your home. Closing your drapes or blinds will also protect your furniture and carpeting from ultraviolet damage. You might also consider swapping out your shears for insulated curtains that have a dense weave and high thread count or a synthetic thermal backing.
11. Employ Seasonal Bedding Solutions
Nighttime can be the worst time for feeling the summer heat. You probably put away the heavy comforter and blankets during hot weather, but choosing the right fabrics can help you stay cooler, too. Natural textile fabrics like cotton and bamboo wick moisture away from your body while you sleep, keeping you more comfortable. They’re a good choice for blankets, sheets, pillowcases and even sleepwear. Prefer open weave styles and stay away from flannel and fleece.
It’s also a good idea to rethink your pillow selection. New stay cool synthetic pillow filling makes for a cooler head, especially since you release a lot of body heat through your head and neck. Another option is to use old fashioned grain hull pillows (buckwheat or rice). The loose fill allows for better air flow and heat dissipation.
