5 Ways to Keep Your Poconos Home Cool this Summer

5-ways-to-keep-your-Poconos-home-cool-this-Summer In the summertime, a lot of people “head for the hills” (or in this area, they head for the Poconos Mountains). And while the Poconos do provide some relief from the heat that hits parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, there are still plenty of days when it can get a little warmer than is comfortable. The average high temperatures in the summer are around 80 degrees—but those “non-average” days can be a sticky mess.

A lot of us have gotten used to simply hitting the “coldest” setting on the air conditioner and crank the fan up as high as it will go. But there are other options for keeping cool without cranking up the AC. They’ll cost you less money, and a lot of people prefer to forgo the chilly blast of artificially cooled air. Here are five ways you can keep the inside of your Poconos home cool this summer, when the outside temperature heads into that uncomfortable above-average range.

Lower the Blinds.

Many homeowners aren’t aware that an estimated 30 percent of the heat in their homes (we’re talking about unwanted summer heat) comes through their windows. Chances are that you have blinds, shades, or other window coverings. Lower those coverings to significantly reduce your energy consumption and make things more comfortable inside.

Close Off Unused Rooms.

If you have unused rooms in your home that aren’t used on a regular basis (guest rooms or a study), you can help keep things cooler by simply closing the doors. Not only will you not waste energy cooling off unused space, but your air conditioner will be more efficient cooling off the rooms you do use.

Get Ceiling Fans Pointed in the Right Direction.

It’s easy to forget to reverse the flow of air on your ceiling fans. In the summer you want them turning counter-clockwise—and you may want to turn the speed up a notch. A little breeze can actually feel good when it’s a cooling breeze.

Cook Outdoors.

A lot of us love to grill in the summer anyway, so instead of heating up the kitchen with your cooking (which heats up the rest of the house, too) take things outside. Try some new recipes on the grill. You can cook stir fry veggies on the grill or make pizza!

Let Nature Take Over.

Open some windows at night and let the cooler night air circulate. By opening a window on the other side of the house, you should be able to get a nice cross breeze.

BONUS TIP: Do a Light Switch. Everybody knows that LED and CFL lights are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, but do you know where all that extra energy goes? Roughly 90 percent of an incandescent bulb’s energy goes to creating heat. That means if you have a bunch of incandescent bulbs burning around the house, you’re actually heating things up. You can either turn t off those lights or switch to CFLs or LEDs.

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