The heat from the sunshine coming through your windows is a significant part of the heat that comes into your home in the summer.  Reducing solar heat gain can help reduce your air conditioning bills.

Shade East and West Windows

The east and west sides of your home receive almost three times more sunlight in summer than the south side, and even more than the north. Protecting east and west windows from direct sunlight can have a significant impact on air conditioning costs and comfort.

Light-colored window shades, drapes and blinds reflect heat away from the house. Keep window treatments closed during the day, particularly on windows that face south and west.

Install awnings or other window shading, particularly on south-facing windows.

Landscape for Efficiency

Use plants on trellises to shade windows or the whole side of the house on the south and west sides. Try using fast-growing annual vines such as morning glory, moonvine, purple hyacinth bean or scarlet runner bean or perennial vines that lose their leaves in the winter, such as clematis, grapevine and trumpet vine.

Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall. These trees provide cooling shade in summer, but do not block all of the winter sunlight. Plant deciduous trees on the southeast and southwest corners, and on the east and west for maximum summer shade. Daytime air temperature can be as much as six degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods.