Lower Your Air Conditioning Bill And Save The Planet
by John Laumer, Philadelphia 
on 08. 8.06
As our intro graphic, courstesy of the Florida Solar Energy Center , shows, opportunities for improvement in your air conditioning bill lie not only with expensive HVAC equipment upgrades, but in reducing your 'cooling load'. Although the site lists 16 ways to reduce the cooling load, thereby reducing your personal climate footprint, we’d like to focus on just one of them: solar screening. See the example below the fold.
SunBlox Corporation offers a solar screen that, as advertised: ‘Diverts up to 90% Of 230 BTU’s per square foot of the sun's energy as it approaches a home's windows & doors.’ Reportedly, use of solar screens results in an energy cost savings of up to 30% in the Central Florida market (depends on proportion of a home's envelope covered with sun-facing glass). The Orlando-based SunBlox, Inc. website mentions a payback period on savings approaching 6 years, and includes a photo gallery of product installs. We’ve clipped few shots for you. Solar screen installs, depending on brand/type, are priced in the $2 - $6/square foot installed.
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Would functional outside shutters (as opposed to the purely decorative ones alongside the window in the picture in the post) also be a good way to absorb or reflect sunlight before it heats the inside of a building? Those would be a nice old-fashioned solution, and I would think that you'd get a lot less solar heating with something outside the glass than inside the glass, like blinds or drapes.
==== author's response follows ====
Yes exterior adjustable blinds would have equal functionality. One problem is that for upper story installs, it would not be possible to manually open or close blinds from inside if they are on "non-opening" windows. The solar screens can be left on day in and day out or taken down in the winter season. Two other issues: cost per square foot is probably higher for traditional blinds and they would not be compatable with many architectural forms.
Wait! I think you've neglected the most treehuggery solar screen of all: TREES!
Properly sized and sited, they can provide not just shade but an actual cooling effect through the process of transpiration. Ever layed on the grass 'cause it feels so cool? That's transpiration. Plus if you use deciduous trees, they'll still let through light in winter.
For extra hip points, you can show off your knowledge of native flora. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I use Oregon White Oak farther away from the house and red-twigged dogwood (a large shrub) closer to the house, where I don't want a huge root ball destroying the foundation. I don't use evergreen plants to shade windows because I want the light in winter.
Doing stuff like this makes a difference. If you can combine it with a slightly revised attitude towards air conditioning (something my blog partner has been writing about.. http://bottleworld.net/?p=26 ), and go to the pool and the movies once in a while, you can get through the summer without AC. Except maybe in Texas.
Is this available in Texas? I know they are in Florida, I do not see anything about locations or limit's to locations. But it would seem like it would be more expensive for them to get to me in Texas.
I've just spoken with Sunblox (and requested a quote for ten windows on the sunniest parts of my house.). The rep says that these screens are very popular in Texas, New Mexico, and California, but haven't yet penetrated the Florida market. I'll be posting what I learn about them on my blog.
You could save energy too by finding a way for the fridge to dump its heat to the outside at summer.
Juan, I've been thinking the same thing for years! My fridge (which is Energy Star rated) dumps a lot of hot air on my feet and I always think why there isn't something like a dryer's duct to take that air outside? I wonder if there's been a study to show how much a fridge actually heats up a space, and how much energy it takes to cool that back down?
I think I read somewhere on treehugger about semi-transparent photovoltaic cells.
I mean instead of just blocking out the light make use of it?!
Indeed normal opaque solar cells would nicely to block out the sun whilst generating energy for later use.
RE: "Is this available in Texas? I know they are in Florida, I do not see anything about locations or limit's to locations. But it would seem like it would be more expensive for them to get to me in Texas."
There is a solar screen company that services San Antonio and surrounding areas. Check out www.solxscreens.com
An air system is the only way to go and air conditioning is important to the long-term durability of your home. Air conditioning can add heat, moisture and humidity to the air of your home. You should know what size air conditioning system is needed. Some air conditioning units are generally quiet enough to be installed under a window or near a patio, so sleeping or the entertaining of guests is not disrupted. Centralized air systems are in the vast majority of "newer" homes.
Elby
Wonderful site and lots of very informative information. The end game is to cut back on our energy footprint so I thought I would try to aid in that effort by making this product know to you. It is called a Bedfan cooling system. It keeps you cool at night so you don’t have to use as much air conditioning. Basically it delivers a gentle breeze between your sheets and makes a 78 degree house feel like you are sleeping at 70. I have seen about a 20% reduction in my cooling cost and so have many others that I know. So check it out if you like. Just my two cents. Bedfan dot com