A southern Colorado homeowner says a south-facing wall in a brand-new house is getting hot enough to overheat two bedrooms, even though the home is "very well insulated."
They had been considering a removable awning, but the sloped area and strong winds around the house made that idea hard to execute.
Here's what to know
The homeowner posted on Reddit's r/buildingscience forum, asking for advice. The homeowner described the root of the issue: "My south wall is cooking two bedrooms."
One commenter explained the source of the indoor heat: "The heat you are getting is the sun shining directly on the wall, not really ambient heat, which is what the insulation mostly helps with."
Commenters pointed to simple fixes first: "Paint the wall white. Or at least a lighter color." People also suggested trees, vines, trellises, and sun shade fabric that could be removed in winter if needed.
Others focused on the wall finish itself, saying high-reflectance exterior paints and coatings can reflect more solar energy away from the surface, so less heat is absorbed.
More background
One person who said they "wire" swimming pools recalled working next to "a black wall" on a new house and noticing heat "just radiating" from it by about 11 a.m.
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The homeowner said an infrared thermometer was on the way, but added that the wall already felt hot to the touch.
A few commenters also brought up more involved building-science solutions. One solution was to build a rain screen with rigid insulation beneath furring strips to break the thermal bridge and create a vented outer layer.
What can be done?
Across the thread, the main theme was shade. They suggested whatever form of shade makes the most sense for the property. In this case, that included a fascia-mounted awning, a decorative pergola, a trellis, grapevines, and shade trees.
People also suggested making the wall absorb less heat. A lighter exterior color or a coating with higher solar reflectance could help, and one commenter said a tinted version that gives up some performance might still reflect infrared heat.
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Some commenters suggested making the sunny wall useful instead of just trying to deflect the sunlight. One commenter proposed mounting solar panels there, while another wrote, "Solar panels + window unit heat pumps? 🙂 Your meter is right there and south is the best direction." If homeowners want to compare that route, EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with solar incentives for each state. Together, those tools can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
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One commenter summed up the core of the solution: "you just need shade of some sort. however you achieve that depends on what you want."
Where can I learn more?
For more ideas on handling heat, these stories look at how shade, airflow, and reflective surfaces can help.
• During a U.K. heatwave, homes stay 6 degrees cooler when windows remain shut.
• In traditional buildings, natural ventilation cooling tricks kept indoor temperatures lower than expected.
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