If you're tired of suffering through long, cold winters, a move to a warmer climate can bring about some welcome relief. One of the biggest challenges of moving to a warmer state is that it can be difficult to keep your home cool during the summer without spending an excessive amount of money. To help reduce your costs and make your move even more worthwhile, here are a few pieces of tech to look for when considering different warm-climate homes.
Geothermal
Cooling System
Although
it's not the newest tech available, a geothermal cooling system can be a major
money saver over time. By using a refrigerant that's cooled by ambient
underground temperatures, you don't have to worry about spending vast amounts
of money to cool your home. Plus, most of the components in a geothermal system
are designed to last for many decades, meaning you may never have to buy a new
system while you own your home.
In-House
AC Cooling System
There are
many areas where an AC cooling system is a rarity and homes in that area
typically use in-window systems that can be removed during the winter months to
save money. However, if you’re moving to a new area, then a cooling system that is built into your home
will be pertinent, not just a luxury.
Smart
Thermostat
Smart
thermostats help keep your home cool while still saving a lot of energy. These
devices learn your living patterns so that you're not needlessly running your
cooling system when you're not home. An added perk of smart thermostats is that
you can control them remotely from your smartphone.
Door
Sensors
Many
people install door sensors for security purposes, however, sensors that tell
you when the doors are open can be helpful when trying to keep your home cooler
during the day. Leaving doors open is one of the most expensive ways to prevent
your home from being able to control the temperature. When considering what
system to install, consider whether you want an audible noise such as a beeping
that gets louder as time goes on with the door being open or if you would
prefer something like a phone notification instead.
WiFi-Enabled
Blinds
One of the
best ways to keep your home cool is to prevent excess sunlight from entering
through the windows. If you're always busy, though, it can be difficult to
remember to adjust your blinds so that they aren't open during the warmest
parts of the day. If you have WiFi-enabled blinds, though, you can set your
blinds to open and close on a fixed schedule so that you can take advantage of
natural light without allowing excess heat into your home.
Cooling
Curtains
In
addition to blinds, a great way to block heat from outside and to keep the cold
temperature inside is by installing cooling curtains. Not only does this help
keep your home cool, it also helps you save money on electricity bills. One
drawback with cooling curtains is that they block out light, which is how they
work to keep your home cool, but it also makes it so that there is less natural
light coming through to your home.
Smart
Ceiling Fans
When
you're occupying a room, there's no better way to quickly lower the felt
temperature than by using a ceiling fan. If you have taller ceilings, though,
you might find that adjusting the speed of your ceiling fan is more hassle than
it's worth. However, if the home you're considering has a smart ceiling fan,
you'll be able to control the operation of your ceiling fan from your
smartphone. This will ensure that you don't run the ceiling fan faster than it
needs to be run for a given temperature. Additionally, you can have the fan
automatically reverse direction when the air is reported warm or cold inside.
For example, during the summertime, changing your fan to rotate
counterclockwise at a higher speed can provide a wind-chill effect.
Cooling
Pillow
Oftentimes, when we think of technology, we neglect to consider non-electric technology. For example, your pillow can help you stay cool at night if you have a pillow with a cooling tech in it. Additionally, there are mattresses and bedding with the same type of technology. If you tend to sleep warm or your home makes you feel overheated at night, then you need to get a mattress with cooling technology.
While it
would be nice to have all of these technologies in place when you move into
your new home, don't let the absence of these technologies be a deal-breaker.
That's because most of these devices continue to drop in price, meaning that
you can easily add them after you move in without breaking the bank. This will
help you get the house you want and still keep your home cool for a reduced
cost.
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