Managing Natural Breezes To Keep Your Florida Home Comfy Year-Round

Breezes have long been utilized for natural ventilation in homes. Since air movement triggers evaporation, it also creates a cooling effect. This, of course, is welcome in our South Florida weather where humidity and high temperatures can make things mighty uncomfortable for much of the year. Instead of letting your HVAC system do all the work during the long summers and cooler winters, try managing natural breezes to lower and increase temperatures, improve indoor comfort and lower your energy bills.

Cooling the home

Keep windows on opposite sides of the house open in order to facilitate natural air flow. Downwind windows let in breezes that push stale air out of the house and replace it with fresh air. Consider opening windows facing shady areas since air is usually cooler in these locations. If necessary, trim any plants and shrubs that may be blocking air flow and arrange to have landscaping designed to maximize the use of cool air.

During days when breezes are too light to cool your home, increase air movement by installing ceiling fans. Fans displace warm air in a room and move it outward where it will either be pushed out of the windows or mixed with cool air to produce an even temperature.

On warmer days, if it’s not too miserably hot, open up your house in the morning before temperatures start rising, to take advantage of the cooler morning air. Make sure you close up the house the instant the temperatures outside rise above the temperature inside.

Warming the home

Managing natural breezes correctly can also allow you to warm your home during winter. Let in air from the windows facing west or south since these are the areas that receive the most sunlight. Watch the southside-facing windows during the warmest periods during the day as well, since sunlight coming in from this direction comes from a steeper angle and thus is more intense. If the heat becomes too much, install a roof overhang or window blinds to lower temperatures.

For more green solutions, call us at NisAir Air Conditioning & Heating. We provide quality products and services in Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. We can help you find the best solutions that maximize the use of the environment to create comfortable and safe living spaces.