COOLING YOUR HOME NATURALLY ( excerpts from a former Website newsletter)

Keeping cool indoors when it is hot outdoors can be a problem. In Ajijic, Mexico, we have no need for air conditioners as the weather is temperate most of the year. Those with a conditioner can save on the initial cost of installation and the high electricity costs to run it.

There are alternatives and some low cost retrofit options to help you “keep your cool”.

Natural or (Passive) Cooling using non-mechanical methods.

First of all, keep heat from building up in your home.

The primary source of heat build-up is sunlight absorbed through the roof, walls and windows. Dull, dark, colored home exteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun that strikes the home’s surface. Some of this heat is conducted into the home. Light coloured surfaces effectively reflect most of the heat away from your home. Wall colour is not as important as roof colour.  There are reflective coatings for an existing roof. A reflective and waterproof coating is a wise investment. Ask your local contractor.

      Windows allow roughly 40% of unwanted heat into your home. We recommend buying homes in Mexico with good covered terraces, preferably facing south. Many Mexican homes have high ceilings which reduce heat gain.

Reflective window coatings will reflect heat away from your home. They can also reduce fading of furniture, draperies and carpeting.;Sun control films can reflect as much as 80% of the incoming sunlight. They may darken a room. However, combination films allow light into the room but also some heat. Investigate the different options to select the film that best suits your needs. Professionals install many films. However, for a small job there are do-it-yourself films such as these:http://do-it-yourself-window-film.com/, This is a 3M product.http://www.decorativefilm.com/installation.asp  Check the internet for other companies that may suit your needs.

The latest interior solar window shades are very attractive. The basket weave is designed for the situations where light varies, and a view is to be preserved. Openness factors of 5% and 10%, are used for less brightly lit spaces where the view is worth preserving. Check out this website for some ideas.  http://www.the-solar-shade-store.com/ecovision-solar-shades.html . Local stores have some of these products.

Exterior shades may include awnings, lovers and shutters depending on the style of your home. Awnings are very attractive because they block direct sunlight. A properly installed awning can reduce heat gain as much 65% on southern windows. A light coloured awning does double duty by also reflecting sunlight. Maintaining a gap between the top of the awning and the side of the house helps vent accumulated heat from under a solid surface awning.  Retractable awnings are available when views are important. A local company well-known for its awnings is Cortinas y Lonas de Mexico, S.A. (766 0045). 

Other shading devices block the sun’s rays and absorb or reflect the solar heat. Shading your home can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 20˚F (11˚C). Trees and other vegetation may provide effective shading as well. When designing your landscaping, use plants native to your area that survive with minimal care. The height, growth rate, branch spread and shape are all factors to consider in choosing a tree. Vines are a quick way to provide shading and cooling. Trees and vines create a cool microclimate that dramatically  reduces the temperature by as much as 9˚F (5˚C) in the surrounding area. Dark and course leaves absorb solar radiation.  Plant trees and shrubs so that they can direct breezes.   Placing vegetation too close to your house can trap heat and make the air around your house even warmer. Vine trellises set away from the house allow air to circulate and keep the vines from attaching to your house’s façade and damaging its exterior. Do not plant trees where their roots can damage septic tanks, sewer lines, underground wires or the house foundation.

A grass covered lawn (or ground covered) is usually cooler 10˚F (6˚C) than bare ground. Consider native ground covers that require little water.

We have cool nights and warm days in Ajijic, so let the night air in to cool your home and keep it closed when it is warm outside. This can maintain a nice comfortable inside temperature. Vented cupolas provide air cooling. When cool breezes blow anytime let them in!!

Some of our best builders use skylights widely, eliminating the need to turn on lights during daylight hours. Compact fluorescent lamps use about 75% less energy than incandescent lamps, and emit 90%           

Secondary sources are heat generating appliances in the home.

Consider upgrading to new energy efficient major appliances that generate less heat and use less energy. Use household appliances in the early morning or late evening to avoid heat gain in your home. Water heaters are best sealed off from the rest of the house and vent your dryer to the outside. You will find laundry areas outside in many homes in Ajijic. Use outside BBQs and microwave ovens to generate less heat.

Fans are commonplace in Ajijic homes and helping to keep them cool and comfortable. Ceiling fans make you feel cooler as their effect is equivalent to lowering the air temperature by about 4˚F (2˚C). Evaporative coolers use about ¼ the energy of conventional air conditioners. Both options are less costly to install and maintain.

We hope this gives you some ideas. Although we mention sources, it is for information only, not  recommendations.

Do check with your contractor before starting any projects using the ideas mentioned.

We have added to our website monthly newsletter (http:www.wrightteammexico.com). It has been edited for the use of Lake Chapala residents.

Your home is an envestment in living as a well as in savings. If neglected, it will pay no dividends. If properly maintained and improved, it will pay a high yield in comfort and usefulness for your family and in avoidance of costly repair bills. Home improvements also tend to raise neighborhood standards and, as a result, property values. From an economic standpoint, home improvements mean higher employment, increased markets for materials and home products - and therefore a more flourishing community.

If You Do It Yorself

If you are handy with tools and have the experience, you can save money by doing many jobs yourself. But unless you are skilled in wiring, plumbing, installing water systems and cutting through walls, you should rely on professionsals for such work. There are a number of skilled craftsmen in Ajijic who know Mexican construction methods which are sometimes quite different that in Canada and the US.

When you buy a home at the Lakeside we recommend a property inspection so that you are aware of any things that may need attention.

When you buy the required materials, it pays not to skimp. Good materials are not necessarily the most expensive. What you need are products that look good, are easy to maintain, and last a long time. Buy only from reliable dealers.

If You Use a Contractor

If  you plan to use the services of a contractor, take care to choose one with a reputation for honesty and good workmanship. There are several ways to check on a contractor.

• Talk with people for whom he has done work.
• Ask to visit some of his clients if possible to see the work that he has done for them.
• Check his place of business to see that he is not a fly-by-night operator. But do not judge a place by it's look, as in Mexico they may be sheds or lean toos out of which comes some excellent craftsmanship.
• Find out if you can, how he rates with known building product distributors and wholesale suppliers.
• Ask friends and neighbours for  names of contractors that they could recommend.

Compare Contractor Offers.

Before deciding on a contractor you may want to (and probably should) get bids from two or three different ones. Make sure each bid is based on the same specifications and the same grade of materials. The specifications may be detailed by you if you feel competent or by someone that you know is. If these bids vary widely, find out why.

Many contractors offer package plans that cover the whole transaction. Under such a plan the contractor provides all materials used and takes care of all work involved including clean up. A package is best in our view as an hourly payment plan could be costly if the work is drawn out.

Make sure your contractor has a building permit if required for your particular job. Also if you are in an area with a board of director you must get permission to make any building changes by submitting the plans so that they are in the limits of the rules and procedures.

Understand What You Sign

The contract that both you and the contractor sign should state clearly the type and extent of  improvements to be made and the materials to be used. We give them the dementions that we want with drawings. Before you sign, get the contractor to spell out for you in exact terms:

• How much the entire job will cost you (including clean up and removal of debris)
• How much you will pay in service charges.

After the entire job is finished in the manner set forth in your contract, you sign a completion certificate. By signing this paper you certify that you approve the work and materials.

Make sure that the contractor has paid his workers IMSS and other expected payments and get a receipt or letter stating that the workers have received these payments. You do not want to be left holding the bag so to speak.

If your improvements add square footage (or meters) to your property (another room, bodega or carport) be sure that  the contactor will include a "manifestation of construction" for the new area. This is done with the City of Chapala and dded to your tax bill. It will not add much to you bill, but if not done there likely will be a fine when the new area is noticed if you sell your home. The city appraises the homes when listed.

Beware of Fraud

Most contractors concientiously try to give their costumers service equivalent to the full value of their money. Unfortunately, home improvement rackets to exist. Here are a few common sense rules to follow:

• Read and understand every word of any contact or other paper before you sign it. If you do not read Spanish and some of it is Spanish have someone read it for you.
• Never sign a contact with anyone who makes fantastic promises. Reputable contractors are not running give-away businesses.
• Avoid wild bargains. The best bargain is a good job.
• Do not let contractors high-pressure you into signing up to buy their materials or services.
• Be wary of those who try to scare you into signing for repairs that they say are urgent. (Your home inspection will spell this out). High pressure and scare tactics are aften the mark of a phony deal.
• Never sign a completion certificate untill all the work called for in the contract has been completed to your satisfaction. It is separate from other contracts.
• Proceed cautiously when contractor demands a lien on your property.

We trust that this is helpful to you as many people like to make changes to the homes that they purchase at Lakeside, whether old or new.