The summer season brings bright sunshine, neighborhood barbecues, and, inevitably, those famous soaring temperatures. Keeping your luxury home comfortably cool shouldn’t mean sacrificing its beautiful aesthetic, keeping the blinds permanently shut, or dealing with sky-high utility bills.
Whether you are looking to optimize your current house or you already enjoy the built-in benefits of a brand-new Craftmark home, here is a practical guide to keeping your space perfectly chilled and highly efficient all summer long.
Block the Sun, Not the Style
You don’t have to live in the dark to stay cool. Consider upgrading to energy-efficient cellular shades or light-blocking blinds in your sun-facing rooms. They diffuse harsh afternoon light while keeping the heat at bay. If you leave for a summer day trip, draw your window coverings to keep the sun from baking your interiors while you are gone.
The Craftmark Advantage: If you live in a new Craftmark home, your windows are already doing the heavy lifting. We use Low-E/Argon insulated windows that act as an invisible shield, blocking out the sun’s harsh heat and UV rays while still allowing brilliant natural light to flood your open-concept spaces.
Optimize Your Airflow
Maximizing your home’s airflow is key to staying comfortable. First, check the direction of your ceiling fans. In the summer, they should spin counterclockwise to create a cooling downdraft. Ensure your furniture and rugs aren’t blocking your air registers so chilled air can circulate freely, and remember to swap out your HVAC filters regularly so your system doesn’t have to work overtime.
The Craftmark Advantage: Our homes are built to anticipate your needs, coming standard with smart thermostats. Furthermore, in communities like Strathmore View, Craftmark homes utilize multi-speed ENERGY STAR® certified heat pumps. Because they operate at multiple speeds, they deliver whisper-quiet, consistent cooling without the energy waste.
Eliminate Hidden Indoor Heat
Everyday electronics and appliances generate a surprising amount of internal heat. Make it a habit to power down unused televisions, computers, and gaming consoles, and swap out any old incandescent light bulbs for LEDs. When it comes to summer entertaining, try taking the cooking outside to the grill or using smaller countertop appliances to avoid turning your kitchen into a sauna.
The Craftmark Advantage: Craftmark homes come standard with cool, highly efficient LED lighting throughout. Furthermore, in communities like Strathmore View, our advanced induction cooktops transfer heat directly to your cookware rather than the surrounding air. Not only does this keep your sweeping kitchen island and surrounding gathering spaces comfortably cool, but it also eliminates combustion by-products, ensuring your indoor air quality remains fresh and clean.
Seal Up the Leaks
Don’t let your precious chilled air escape! Take a weekend afternoon to check the weatherstripping around your exterior doors and windows, and apply fresh caulk to any noticeable drafts.
The Craftmark Advantage: Enjoy living in a home with superior, built-in efficiencies. Unlike standard 2×4 framing, Craftmark utilizes robust 2×6 construction for our exterior walls. This allows for thicker, premium R-21 insulation. Combined with a whole-house energy seal package and mastic-sealed ductwork, your home is designed to naturally retain its chilled air, meaning your space stays cooler for much longer.
A Home Built for the Future
Small, stylish adjustments can make a massive difference in your home’s summer efficiency. However, if you’re tired of fighting the heat and are ready for a home that does the work for you, it might be time to look toward the future. By embracing our Craftmark Green standards, which adhere to EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Certification and can feature cutting-edge electric technologies, highly efficient heat pump water heaters, and EV charging capabilities, Craftmark homes can reduce energy usage by up to 20% compared to modern homes built to typical code.
Whether you’re adding smart home tech to your current space or settling into a brand-new luxury townhome, the right energy-efficient strategies ensure your summer will be nothing but a breeze.
