Ideal Bite: Cool Hand Biter

June 29, 2009 Trouble viewing this email? Read it online... KEEPING COOL Cool Hand Biter If 10,000 Biters plant shade trees on the two sunniest sides of their houses, once they're grown, we'll avert the CO2 created by 280 houses in a year, every year. Feel like a prisoner to your summer utility bill? Make like Paul Newman and fight...inefficient A/C, that is. Houses lose up to 50% of their A/C and heating energy through windows, but tricks such as planting shade trees and window treatments help keep you cool. A sweet escape from energy waste. Savings the Boss'll love. Strategically placed shade trees help naturally cool your house, and treatments like window films cut your household energy use by up to 10%. Cool CO2 savings. Less A/C = less power = less pollution from power plants. Bringing your valuables outta hiding. Keeping out heat and UV rays from the sun means you don't have to worry about your furniture or artwork fading. Life at the Biter offices would be a whole lot sweatier without window films (see below) - especially when the A/C goes out, which happened with unwelcome regularity last summer. Try putting adhesive, tinted window films on your windows. Films from companies like Panorama keep out solar heat and UV radiation while still letting in light (prices vary). Plant a shade tree. Check Lowe's for advice on the best types of trees to plant for shade (hazelnut trees are a sure bet); and where to plant them for max shade in summer and sun in winter. Bonus: Trees eat up CO2. Get window shades. Some, including Hunter Green, reduce the amount of cool air you lose through windows ($190/typical 60- by-42-inch shade). Install awnings. Again, check Lowe's (or any home improvement store) for tons of styles, including metal or fabric; manual or motorized retractable; and window, door, or patio awnings (prices vary). Energy Star - find federal tax rebates for window treatments. In ancient Rome, rich residents cooled their houses by circulating aqueduct water through their walls. SPONSOR SHARE           FORWARD TO A FRIEND           ADD TO MYBITES           BLOG WITH US           COMMENT ON THIS TIP EDITORIAL POLICY  |  PRIVACY POLICY  |  TERMS AND CONDITIONS PRESS KIT  |  ADVERTISE  |  CONTACT US Copyright 2009 Ideal Bite, Inc. 340 Brannan St. Ste 402 San Francisco, CA 94107