Thursday, March 15, 2012

Heating and Cooling Strategies for the Bay Area

The pleasant and moderate climate of California is world-renowned, but the Bay Area does have temperature highs and lows to consider. With energy prices moving in an upward direction, now is the time to review your living space and look for ways to reduce energy costs and maintain the comfort in your home. The simplest and most obvious steps to take are the ones you and your family can do now. These small changes in your behavior will help you take advantage of your existing structure and system. In addition, consulting with a Hayward heating and cooling contractor, like the ones at All About Air Heating & Air Conditioning, is another step that will reveal other solutions and maintenance goals worth checking out.

Insulation and modern windows are the first line of defense for energy expenses. America has an aging block of housing with minimal insulation and lots of room for improvement, especially in California where the mild winters fool homeowners into thinking this is not important. There is almost always room to improve your insulation and new technology is making great strides in this area to bring new innovations to the market.

In California sunshine is plentiful and most Hayward heating and cooling strategies center around diffusing it and redirecting the heat away. Exterior baffles can bounce energy away before it can touch your home and light-toned curtains are very effective for heat deflection inside your home as well. Large overhangs that keep light from entering windows during summer also can allow sunlight in during the cooler months. Planting shade trees and foliage that absorbs the sunlight can also moderate large temperature swings.

The nearby water of the bay keeps the air cooler than many California regions and is often accompanied by a steady breeze. This air flow can be put to use by opening windows or doors on the windward side of your home for cooling and a cross draft can be established by opening windows on the opposite side of your home. Since heat rises, it is better to open windows from the top when possible and allow cooling air to enter from lower floors or the windy side of any house.

In winter months the warming sun is present in Northern California moreso than in many other regions. By just pushing back the curtains you can allow the sunshine to warm floors and wall interiors for an inexpensive way to gather heat throughout the day. If you have stone or tile floors this heat will be released into the evening and if you close your curtains after the sun goes down you?ll wrap this thermal mass in a blanket that reduces your energy bill.

As always, the care and maintenance of your furnace and air conditioner is key to keeping your Hayward heating and cooling costs down. In addition to the steps above, a modern unit will take advantage of the latest energy saving techniques. With the help of a professional, heating and cooling in Hayward, Fremont, and Oakland will perform an energy audit and discuss long term solutions that will fit your budget.

Tagged as: Hayward air conditioning repair, Hayward furnace repair, Hayward heating and cooling

Source: http://www.articlesrx.com/heating-and-cooling-strategies-for-the-bay-area/4629

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