With summer just around the corner, temperatures will soon be on the rise. Unfortunately, climate change has made summers hotter and increased the number of heat waves. Temperatures now more often rise to uncomfortable highs across many regions. This shift has left many in traditionally cooler areas who haven’t needed air conditioning, such as the Pacific Northwest and Northern New England, grappling with heat levels they’re unaccustomed to managing.
Has this left you wondering how you will handle the dog days of summer in your short-term rental unit? If you’re seeking alternatives to buying an air conditioner or ways to cut your property’s energy consumption, here are our top 5 tips for keeping your guests cool.
1. Install shades or shutters.
Effective management of sunlight through window treatments is one of the best ways to prevent heat from entering the unit. Here are some options:
Solar shades are highly effective at reducing heat entering the home without completely blocking light. This makes them suitable for areas where natural light is desired during the day.
Blackout curtains offer excellent heat reduction because they’re designed to block light completely. They’re ideal for bedrooms or any rooms that face direct sunlight, especially during the peak hours of the day. The downside is that they also block natural light, so they may not be suitable for some spaces.
Blinds and shutters allow adjustable light control. You can tilt them to minimize heat while still letting in some light. Blinds, however, are less effective at blocking heat compared to full shades and curtains because of the gaps between the slats unless they’re completely closed.
Read this article from the Department of Energy for more details.
2. Maximize airflow with fans and cross-ventilation.
To optimize airflow and maintain a comfortable indoor environment, consider incorporating fans into the cooling strategy. Fans help circulate air throughout the home. That said, they aren’t recommended in high humidity conditions. When using ceiling fans, adjust them to rotate counterclockwise: this pushes air downward and creates a cooling sensation.
Also, take note of the home’s airflow patterns, and ensure that furniture doesn’t obstruct them. Bulky furniture blocking airflow can hinder the exchange of hot and cool air if your guests open windows when outdoor temperature drop.
For more nighttime and early morning cooling, place box fans outwards in windows. This helps expel hot air from the interior and replaces it with cooler outdoor air.
For more details on fans and a few product recommendations, read this New York Magazine Strategist article.
3. Provide cool bedding.
Sweaty, sleepless nights are one of the most unpleasant parts of a heat wave. But you can help your guests sleep soundly with breathable linens. Choose bedding with a loose weave and a low thread count, such as linen or percale cotton, to promote airflow and heat dissipation. Linen, known for its heat-regulating properties, ensures sheets remain cool to the touch, which is ideal for warm nights. If linen feels too rough, go with eucalyptus sheets, which are softer and highly breathable. The above-mentioned and linked Strategist article recommends specific models and brands.
4. Seal up to cool down.
Air sealing the home is another powerful, affordable weapon in the fight against heat. Here’s how to get started:
Target Doors and Windows: Apply weatherstripping to movable parts and caulk around stationary sections to prevent hot air from entering.
Check for Leaks: Inspect areas where plumbing, electrical wiring, and ducting penetrate walls and floors. Seal these spots with appropriate caulking or foam.
Upgrade Windows: Consider replacing single-pane windows with double-pane ones to enhance insulation and further reduce air leakage.
For more recommendations and details, see this page from the Department of Energy.
5. Landscape for shade.
Strategic landscaping can make a significant difference. Shade from vegetation creates cooler outdoor spaces and keeps some heat and sunlight from hitting the home. Start with quick solutions and plan for long-term benefits:
Immediate shade with vines: Plant fast-growing vines, such as clematis, morning glory, or Virginia creeper for rapid shade. These can be trained over trellises, arbors, or verandas, swiftly creating shaded areas that reduce heat absorption through windows and walls. But be sure to choose vines that are compatible with your building’s materials. For instance, vines like English ivy, which attach with tiny rootlets, are suitable for brick or masonry but should be avoided on wood structures because they can damage surfaces and are difficult to remove without causing further harm.
Expand coverage with shrubs: Complementing your vine setups with shrubs provides additional shade and cooling in a relatively short time. Place them strategically to shield lower walls and windows from the sun.
Long-term cooling with trees: For sustained cooling effects, plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your property. They’ll grow to provide substantial shade during summer months while allowing sunlight to penetrate in the winter when they lose their leaves. Position them to provide shade and funnel prevailing breezes towards living areas.
Talk with a local tree nursery to choose plant species that match your local climate, grow quickly, and can be planted near homes. For further discussion of the topic, consult this New York Times article.
These five cooling strategies will enhance your guests’ experience during hot days without relying on air conditioning. Alternatively, they reduce the energy use of properties that do have air conditioning. Either way, taking care of these details enhances indoor and outdoor comfort and prepares your properties for the summer. Moreover, this work can be part of an overall effort to boost the sustainability of your property and make it more attractive to eco-conscious guests (for more information on this topic, read our earlier blog post.)