The pleasure of your home looking out directly onto the exotic expanse of a beautiful Southern California or Arizona desert landscape shouldn’t mean higher AC bills. Given our line of work, we get a lot of questions about beating the heat, and we know exactly which windows can keep the heat out.
In this article, we’re going to share the top tips we’ve gathered from years of experience and the science behind construction to help you beat the heat this summer. With luxurious European-style architecture and minimalist yet effective heat-prevention strategies, you can live in style and comfort at the same time.
Keeping A House Cool In The Summer
How do you keep a home cool without AC?
Different types of homes are designed to withstand different kinds of climates. Thick walls keep out cold winds or heat, houses in wetlands need stilts to avoid flooding, and a good drainage system is important to any home experiencing even occasional rainfall.
The modern, effortless architecture of floor-to-ceiling glass is one of the ways in which desert living has transformed from the “roughing it” of the Old West to a luxurious, exotic experience. Rugged landscapes blend with simplicity and minimalism to create one-of-a-kind homes with views of rocky outcroppings, striking saguaros, and colorful sunsets every day.
But living in a desert climate poses its own architectural challenges: cold nights, hot days, and direct, shadeless sunlight demand an attention to detail that we are more than familiar with here at Monumental, a family-owned U.S.-based business. In the summertime especially, desert homes can experience extreme temperatures veering into the hundreds, and need to be designed to withstand their climate in an eco-friendly, economically-friendly way. Luckily, technology has come a long way, and these days we’re not limited to low bungalows or rocky caves underground to stay cool.
Rather than blast the AC all summer long, here are some tips for constructing your home that can limit the heat your house absorbs.
Install Shading Over Windows
In desert homes, effective shading over windows is essential for maintaining a cool interior and blocking out excessive heat. In fact, there’s a science to designing shade: in extreme heat, the angle, materials, and direction of your window installments allow you to optimize comfort and energy efficiency while keeping your home cool.
Well-made window shading and overhangs are especially important when your home has large floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. Choosing the right overhangs, louvers, or pergolas not only sets the aesthetic tone of your home but is an essential step in home design and construction for luxury desert living.
Make sure that your builders are carefully considering the angle of the sun and the specific needs of each window to achieve a balance that keeps their living spaces cool and comfortable year-round. At Monumental, we have extensive experience with designing windows and their shading specifically for use in desert heat; we’ve got you covered, in more ways than one!
Use Low-E, Eco-Friendly Windows
With the wrong type of glass, your windows can be a big contributor to your energy bill! In desert environments, sunlight emits powerful infrared and UV rays that, with the wrong type of glass, will filter directly into your home and raise temperatures quickly. At Monumental, we have you covered: our low-E or low-emissivity windows use a type of glass that was designed to block the level of infrared and UV light that enters your home through the window. These windows have a thin layer of coating that reflects light instead of absorbing it, blocking a higher percentage of the intensity of summer sun. For desert environments with high-intensity light, a soft-coat low-E glass is recommended, and our dealers have the right teams to install those for you.
Any eco-minded individual wants to limit their household waste. Low-E windows are not just practical but very eco-friendly. In addition to keeping the heat out and reducing your energy bills, using low-E glass also limits the sun damage your furniture takes over time, and reduces waste in more ways than one.
Invest in Well-Installed Windows and Doors
Gaps in poorly-installed windows and doors can act like the tiny hole that deflates a balloon; hot air will seep in slowly over the day, and raise the temperature degree by degree.
Correctly installed windows and doors are a must when protecting against the elements. The more seamless the installation, the less likely it is for your home to let the heat in. A well-installed sliding door also means that years of use won’t loosen its seal; if it operates smoothly, it will remain sealed for longer, and keep your home cooler.
All of Monumental’s windows and doors can be customized to your home’s exact specifications and are sealed at the Monumental factory.
Introducing Our All-New 7100 Concealed Vent Window System
Coming soon! Monumental is introducing our all-new 7100 Series Concealed Vent Window System. A fixed window system, our Concealed Vent Window System incorporates operable, tilt-turn vents customized to your home’s needs into every window assembly.
Keeping Your House Cool in Extreme Heat
Our new window system is installed with overhangs, protection from the elements such as harsh sun and rain. Our new vent design is nearly imperceptible until opened, giving the window a smooth, sleek finish that keeps out the elements and ensures that the temperature of your home stays consistent.
Ease of Operability
The 7100 Series Concealed Vent Window System is easy to operate for all members of your household. It complements a combination indoor-outdoor lifestyle while maintaining regular ventilation and strong home security.
Fully Customizable
Like most of our products, this new window system is fully customizable: our dealers can install it for you with specifications for both floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, as well as with one or more turn-tilt panels to fit the final size.
The right type of windows can transform the conditions of any home and maximize comfort, efficiency, and style. Floor-to-ceiling windows are an excellent way to add natural light to a room; your outdoor landscaping becomes living art.
With large overhangs, our windows offer a feeling of openness and continuity without overheating your home. If you’re looking for an elegant finish that fosters a direct connection between you and the beautiful outdoors, but you also want to keep cool, preserve your furniture, and save on your electricity bill, look no further than Monumental’s top-of-the-line glass windows and doors.
Learn more about our glass windows and doors here. And send us a message to inquire about the almost-here 7100 Series Concealed Vent Window System!