Here is what I do in the Summer months to reduce the temperature inside my house. I have two large skylights and I cover them with these detachable window curtain rods so they block out the sun. I estimate that this keeps the interior house temperature about 10 degrees cooler.
This "sun block" should be somewhat easy for you to make and help you have a "cool Summer". You can then take these skylight shades down for the Fall and Winter seasons to let the skylights help heat your home.
