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STORY CONTACT: Bonnie Jones
PHONE: 706/367-6114 (office)
706/207-7973 (cell)
Cool Your Home Naturally
Most people cool their homes by using the air conditioner or ceiling fan.
According to energy experts with Jackson EMC, there is another way to cool a home and
reduce energy costs, called passive cooling.
Passive cooling involves using non-mechanical methods such as reflecting heat
away from a house, blocking the heat from a house and using shading devices to maintain
comfortable temperatures in a home. Jackson EMC recommends several ways to apply
passive cooling methods.
Reflecting Heat Away
Reflecting heat away from a house may be accomplished by applying a reflective
coating to an existing roof or installing a radiant barrier on the underside of the roof.
Other ways to reflect heat include white wall color and reflective window coating. White
walls absorb less heat and increase the prolonged life of siding. Plus, sun-control films on
windows can reflect up to 80 percent of incoming sunlight.
Blocking the Heat
Insulation, shading and landscaping serve as excellent methods to block heat, says
Jackson EMC energy experts. Insulating the attic, which is a major source of heat for a
home, will protect the upper floors of a house. Moreover, shading from trees and
strategically placed landscaping can provide protection from the sun.
Shading Devices
Exterior and interior shades such as awnings, louvers, shutters, drapes, curtains
and Venetian blinds can control heat gain. Exterior shades are generally more effective
than interior shades because they block sunlight before it enters windows. When deciding
which devices to use and where to use them, consider whether you are willing to open
and close them daily or simply utilize them for hotter months.
Jackson EMC is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity and related
services to 194,000 customers in metro Atlanta and northeast Georgia.
Collectively, Georgia’s 42 customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related
services to 3.7 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73% of the
state’s land area. Georgia’s 42 electric membership cooperatives now serve more
customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
Jackson EMC is also part of Touchstone Energy, a national alliance of local,
consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to customers
large and small. More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 44 states are
delivering energy and energy solutions to approximately 17 million customers every day.
Touchstone Energy cooperatives serve their members with integrity, accountability,
innovation and a longstanding commitment to communities.
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