Toasty sunlight through south-facing
windows is great during the winter,
but in the summer? Not so much. Preventing solar heat gain in warm weather—and thus
relying less on air conditioning—is as simple as
closing window blinds, shades, or
curtains. You could cut heat gain by a third, according to
Energy
Savers, by using medium-colored drapes with white plastic backings!
Closing
curtains can translate into energy savings from reduced
air conditioning needs, as
well as a home that won't feel like an oven if it gets extensive southern or western
sun exposure.