Living in Summit County means always having a beautiful views and nature right out your door. As a well known winter wonderland, most homes are designed to stay warm and comfortable in cold weather. However, the summer months can be quite warm --even at higher elevations. To stay comfortable, mountain residents have devised some creative solutions to cope with the summer heat! Here are a few tips that will help you stay cool and comfortable without air conditioning.
First, it is paramount to take advantage of the cooler mountain air. Even when the sun is beating down strong, the shade still provides cooler air. Keeping homes as open as possible will allow the natural cool mountain breezes to flow freely into the home and push out any heat trapped in lofts and rafters. Opening windows on opposite sides of the home will allow for cross-ventilation and promote cooler temperatures throughout.
Many homes are designed (and positioned) considering the direction the sunlight will be coming from during different times of the year. The orientation of the home and placement of windows will have a dramatic effect on the efficiency of regulating temperature. If you are thinking about buying real estate in Summit County, ask us about the design concepts used in the homes you like to understand how they have been designed to maximize comfort and efficiency. For example east-facing rooms with large windows can capture the heat of the morning sun during the winter, but the use of good window treatment or shade trees can prevent these windows from becoming furnaces during the summer months.
A long term solution is to strategically place shade trees around your home. In Summit County, where the elevation is over 9000 feet, there is a limited number of deciduous trees that provide shade in the summertime such as Aspen or Narrow Leaf Cottonwood trees. Well placed evergreen trees will work well too, however, it is important to place this type of tree further away from the home as it can become a fire danger. Talk to a landscape architect to discover the most appropriate trees to help keep your home cool during the summer.
Another strategy is to save some of the chores for after nightfall can have a huge impact on the temperature inside your home. Running clothes dryers and and dishwashers produces a lot of heat! During the daytime when it is sunny, this additional heat can make the home feel uncomfortably warm. If you can’t wait clean, it’s best to wash and dry dishes by hand, and hang clothes out to dry in the sun. Not only will you save money, but your home will stay cooler, naturally!
For more tips on how to stay cool and learn more about homes for sale in Summit County, contact us today!
By Coldwell Banker
All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed & subject to change without notice.