Beat the Heat That the Summer Solstice Brings and Stay Cool With Budget Blinds

By: Budget Blinds | 3 Shares 83 Reads

Time to Break Out the Sunblock and Flip-Flops

ORANGE, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 18, 2012) - The summer solstice on June 20th not only marks the longest day of the year, but also the harbinger of what is expected to be one of the hottest summers on record for most of the country. Last year's summer was the fourth warmest on record in Canada and this year's is gearing up to be even hotter than last year according to the AccuWeather summer forecast recently released. Budget Blinds® is offering free tips to beat the heat and free swatches to help you pick out the perfect window coverings for your home that will help you stay cool and save money to boot!

"Summers have been getting progressively warmer across Canada and this summer does not seem to be any exception," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson. The private US weather service uses computer models, current and past conditions, and other methods to help predict the weather in June, July and August.

To beat the heat this summer, Budget Blinds® has gathered some tips to help you stay cool and relaxed during a blistering summer

Loose-fitting, especially cotton, clothing will keep you cooler than most synthetics
Small battery powered fans with a mister that clip onto a belt buckle are perfect for a quick spritz (store in the refrigerator for an added chill)
Take short baths or showers with cool or tepid water
Keep bottles of water in the freezer; grab one when you're ready to go outside. As the ice melts, you'll have a supply of cold water with you to drink or pour inside your hat or over your head to cool you down
Try storing lotions or Aloe Vera in the refrigerator to use on hot, scorched skin
Fans help circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house

Updating your window treatments is a great way to heatproof your house in the summer and save you money all year long. Replacing your window coverings has never been easier with the new Budget Blinds® Swatch Program that allows you to choose up to 10 different sample squares to test out in your home before buying a full set! Swatches are available from Budgetblinds.ca and come in the most popular colors and styles for both blinds and shades.

Adding energy saving window treatments can not only keep you cool during the summer and insulated in the winter, but save you money on your utility bill as well! R-value indicates an item's ability to reduce the flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the better its resistance of heat gain or loss. A double honeycomb cellular shade has high R-value and great insulating values that can result in substantial energy savings, year after year. Cellular shades alone can save you up to $33 per year on energy usage. The correct combination of window coverings, like Budget Blinds' cellular shades and window film can drastically reduce the amount of heat lost during the cold winter months and can keep your home cooler during the hot summer months. Energy loss through windows accounts for 20% of a home's heating and cooling costs but energy efficient window treatments don't garner as much attention as energy saving household appliances. Other costs incurred without the correct shades could result from sun bleaching of your furniture that you will have to replace or get re-upholstered. With energy efficient window treatments, you could effectively cut down extraneous costs and the use of your heating and cooling systems due to the great insulation from your blinds or shades.

During summer, the sweltering sun beating down on your windows can heat your home to sauna-like levels and distress your cooling system. Throughout winter, the comfortably cozy air inside your home tries to escape through the windows. Whether it is winter or summer, you are going to end up paying for this extra use of energy to heat and cool your home. Although Canada is known for its beautiful winters, this summer is going to be one for the record books; get your home ready for the heat with Budget Blinds®!

About Budget Blinds®

Budget Blinds®, a Home Franchise Concepts, Inc.™ brand, is a custom window coverings franchise that offers convenient shop-at-home service for window coverings and home décor accessories.

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