Building a home this summer? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1) Map Your Solar Orientation

What’s that? Solar orientation is a building’s position in relation to the sun’s path. And summer is the best time to gauge how the strongest sunlight will hit your home. Solar orientation helps you regulate interior temperatures, lowering heating and cooling costs. A good solar design lets in the sun you wish in winter and keeps out the sun in summer. Or vice versa. Commonplace in warmer climates, north-facing homes in the U.S. receive more direct sunlight at the home’s rear.

2) Prioritize Window Treatments

Awnings, shutters, louvres, and other popular window treatments are great ways to keep a home cool. And they can have a big impact on your utility bills. How much? The U.S. Department of Energy says awnings can reduce solar heat gain by up to 77%, while blinds can lower heat gain by about 45%.

3) Be Realistic About a Pool

You’ve probably heard this sage advice: Never go grocery shopping when hungry. The same goes for not making a rash decision on a pool in the middle of the summer heat. Instead, consider the practicalities and year-round costs. On average, maintaining a pool costs about $1,500 a year. But you won’t use the pool all year. As good swimming weather means outdoor temperatures in the 70s or higher, pools in the Dallas Fort-Worth area often aren’t in use for a good part of the year.

4) Make a Plan for Interior Air

For many, with summer heat comes a rise in reactions to indoor allergens; the unavoidable dust mites in a home are strongest in the summer. That’s the perfect time to consider an in-unit air purifier or a whole-house fan. Purifiers allow you to manage the air quality in different areas of the home. A whole-house fan, which draws in cooler air from windows and expels hotter air through a ventilator, circulates all interior air.

5) Select Ceiling Fans

This one is more important than some may think. Ceiling fans circulate cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. So yours will likely run all year. Best to do your homework and select the best ceiling fans for you.

Thinking of building a home? Consider the First United Bank Mortgage One Time Close Construction loan. You can contact us online or call us at (972) 591-3097 to talk about this loan and other great financing options.