Month KW August 1,260 September 970 October 893 November 488 December 356 January 254 February 256 March 208 April 193 May 266 June 486 July 786 August 1,235 September 1,158 October 1,044 November 345 December 228 January 304 February 261 March 270 |
Regarding the south facing windows, you can try to size an awning, that will block the high summer sun, but allow the low winter sun. Alternatively, you could install heavy curtains to keep closed during the day, so the air conditioner isn't competing against the sun all day long.I rented a third floor attic apartment with south facing windows in college. It was cheap and brutally hot. At the hardware store you can buy the foil coated quilted insulation on a roll - same stuff you might put in your car window to block the sun. It's around $1/foot and 4ft tall. We bought enough to cover the windows (which were slightly taller than 4ft so we had a bit of light to see by). It made a HUGEdifference if we left them up when we were gone all day. Then when you are home and want light just roll them up.
Regarding the south facing windows, you can try to size an awning, that will block the high summer sun, but allow the low winter sun. Alternatively, you could install heavy curtains to keep closed during the day, so the air conditioner isn't competing against the sun all day long.I rented a third floor attic apartment with south facing windows in college. It was cheap and brutally hot. At the hardware store you can buy the foil coated quilted insulation on a roll - same stuff you might put in your car window to block the sun. It's around $1/foot and 4ft tall. We bought enough to cover the windows (which were slightly taller than 4ft so we had a bit of light to see by). It made a HUGEdifference if we left them up when we were gone all day. Then when you are home and want light just roll them up.
I'm hoping that this coming summer or fall we will be able to replace our exterior doors like you are planning, they are our biggest remaining leak.It may also help to replace the framing around the door as well as what is there may have no insulation.
We have a giant cedar tree that covers the back side of the house and gives it a lot of shade during the summer. In the front yard we just have a small tree that was planted two years ago that will eventually provide shade for the front two bedrooms, but not the living area. I have plantation shutters for the front window in this room, and they are shut during the day. Here is a photo of the house on the front side.Since the back side of the house doesn't receive direct solar gain, the giant cedar will do little to solve the problem with the overheated living room. The one tree in the front yard is a good start; plant two more that are a bit larger.
That is the plan, the frames are in pretty rough shape. This might be a bit on the spendy side, since we will have to get custom sized doors. The builder of this house was on crack, I swear! Some of the stupid things we have had to fix...I'm hoping that this coming summer or fall we will be able to replace our exterior doors like you are planning, they are our biggest remaining leak.It may also help to replace the framing around the door as well as what is there may have no insulation.
Folks: I’m also getting an outdoor clothline system so that we can reduce the number of dryer loads we do in the non-winter months.
Folks: I’m also getting an outdoor clothline system so that we can reduce the number of dryer loads we do in the non-winter months.
In Dallas you should be able to hang your laundry out to dry year round.
Regarding the south facing windows, you can try to size an awning, that will block the high summer sun, but allow the low winter sun. Alternatively, you could install heavy curtains to keep closed during the day, so the air conditioner isn't competing against the sun all day long.I rented a third floor attic apartment with south facing windows in college. It was cheap and brutally hot. At the hardware store you can buy the foil coated quilted insulation on a roll - same stuff you might put in your car window to block the sun. It's around $1/foot and 4ft tall. We bought enough to cover the windows (which were slightly taller than 4ft so we had a bit of light to see by). It made a HUGEdifference if we left them up when we were gone all day. Then when you are home and want light just roll them up.
I spent my early years in grad student housing (ie, shit holes, although now they are all spruced up with central A/C! My mom spent her early years in grad student housing with dirt floors, so all things considered I didn't have it too bad). Anyway, my parents put straight aluminum foil on the south facing windows. Windows were wide open every night to let in the breeze, and closed all day in the summer.