House cooling.. odd question?
Question:My neighbor just cut down a very large tree that used to shade my house. Ever since it was cut down my house has gotten very hot causing me to run my AC much more.
Would putting a mist hose on the roof take enough heat out of my house to make it worthwhile?
or
should i build a retractable tarp awning about 3 feet above my roof to absorbe the heat?
Answers:
I like your creativity! The mist hose is likely to be a maintainance headache and not effective. And if you are close enought to your neighbor that his tree was your shade, you probably live in a place with zoning ordinances that might take offense at your shade structure (although I saw a very cool-looking California desert house built under a giant barn roof).
I gather that your house isn't positioned for you to plan a replacement tree. Very unfortunate that your neighbor got tired of looking at the tree. Have you explored paying for an upgraded new tree? Calculate your annual increase in AC costs. Ask a large nursery about special ordering larger trees than they usually stock, ask for good options for your situation. Can you buy one for 2 years worth of your increased AC cost? Might be a great deal for everyone.
I also found this site with a list of passive cooling techniques. I don't have awnings, but find that even sheer muslin drapes in my south-facing windows help keep the house cooler. And I will confess, I've thought about dropping a giant curtain down the outside of the house, but my neighbors are strong belivers in CC&Rs, and not so sure about global warming.
http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/coo...
Your best bet would be the awning. They make some very cool awning material that can almost elimenate excess heat. This awning could actually be better than that old tree was. Good Luck!
Install attic ventilation fans. This will help remove hot air from your attic. Close blinds to block out direct sunlight. The sun shining directly through a window produces a lot of heat.
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