The Secrets to a Cooler House

The real tea on energy efficiency

You want cooler rooms and lower bills, youre in Texas so we yall do! Skip the gimmicks, my sweet, elderly neighbor asked about a “cool” device she so on Insta. Had to tell her that it was a scam and something Ive seen with greater frequency over the last couple of decades.

After seeing 5000 attics during my time blowing insulation, I can tell you with confidence the only way to make your home comfortable and energy efficient in Austin TX you have to stick to the basics.

What not to waste money on

Powered attic fans sound smart, but Allison Bailes, building scientist, warns they “waste money, make your home less comfortable, and can be a health and safety problem by pulling conditioned air from your home.” They also “don’t address the radiant heat flow from the roof to the attic floor.” These make sense but in your real world all it does is suck your cool air out the house.

Where Austin homes actually win

No basements here and we only have a winter every other year so target the attic and the glass. If you have limited budget then these will be your big bang. Exterior solar screens or shade structures (maybe plant a tree) keep sunlight/ heat out. Air seal the ceiling plane, then insulate right.

Three budget playbooks:

About $1,500

Targeted attic air sealing, if you see an entry point for hot attic air seal it. 

Add insulation to reach R38

Weatherstrip doors and the attic hatch.

Solar screens on the hottest west and south windows.

This is the fast, durable path to cooler bedrooms without touching the AC.

About $5,000

Whole-home air sealing plus attic insulation to about R-42, installed evenly.

Professional duct sealing and basic airflow balancing.

Solar screens across key exposures or a fixed awning where screens are impractical. This bundle is more money so you can air seal and insulate just a bit more.

About $20,000

Best during remodels so you open once and win for decades.

Remove the old insulation and clean that puppy up.

Bring ducts inside the thermal boundary by insulating the roof line with spray foam. This air seals your attic completely if done right, no mo’ problems.

Exterior shade that doubles as living space, like a pergola or deep awnings. Do something fun you can see (no one will go look in your attic, trust me).

After all this is done then think about upgrading to an inverter HVAC system to really save some money.

The short version

Seal it tight, insulate it right, block the sun before it hits the glass, and stop dumping ductwork into blast-furnace attics. I have been saying it for years, and the results in Central Texas speak for themselves.

Ready for a scoped plan at $1,500, $5,000, or $20,000 tailored to your Austin-area home and tied to your kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, addition, or flooring project? Kellett Norris Custom Contracting can prioritize air seal, insulate, and shade so your house actually stays cool.

📍 Proudly serving Kyle, Buda, Austin, San Marcos, Wimberley, and all of Central TX.