Staying comfortable at home in the summer doesn't mean you have to cool your home when it's hot with a high electricity bill. If you don't have an air conditioner or have an outdated one, some tested hacks will help you keep the room temperature low. Follow the tips below to stay comfortable in your own home during an extreme heat spell. You don't have to increase your electricity costs and lose your nerve.
This is a cheap way to cool an apartment when it's hot
Roofs, windows, air conditioning, insulation - companies that make and sell these products all have their claims about cooling and energy savings. How to cool a room and separate truth from myth when it comes toto use less electricity? Luckily, you can take simple steps to combat this and survive better between four walls in hot weather. Additionally, small changes in your home can have a big impact on your comfort. This means you can be well prepared before the heat arrives on your doorstep.
It is also important to remember that the high energy consumption associated with cooling homes in the summer can lead to more greenhouse gas emissions in global warming. Keeping the home environment as cool as possible in a sustainable way is an effective way to solve such problems.
You can easily achieve this through a series of simple tricks. With this in mind, there is some expert advice and tried and tested methods that you can put into practice when temperatures are too high. So be smart and save money and energy at the same time while living green.
Block heat waves and solar radiation
Keep your blinds closed, especially on north and west windows, to significantly cool your home. Better yet, invest in some blackout blinds to protect your living spaces from the harsh summer sun. If you prevent heat from entering your rooms in the first place, you'll spend less on cooling.
Shade windows and walls with exterior coverings such as blinds, awnings or large potted plants. Plant deciduous trees that shade your living area in summer but still allow the sun to shine through in winter. If you get the chance, invest in window tint and add insulation to your ceilings. This helps to keep the heat in the house even in winter.
Only open balcony doors and windows in the morning and evening
At lunchtime you should keep the windows closed. Additionally, it is best to only open doors and house windows in the morning and late afternoon, when the hottest part of the day has passed. The trick is to keep the air moving in your home. Basically, imagine a breeze blowing through your home. Also try to keep the windows open at opposite ends of your home and the interior doors in between. This creates a draft and allows air to move freely through your home. In homes that may only have windows on one side, open the front door and use a fan to encourage airflow.
If you notice flies and mosquitoes invading, invest in a net to cover door frames or windows. The most important time to keep your windows open is at night. This is when the air is coolest. While you're sleeping, this can also be a great way to keep your bedroom cool at night. Another tip for anyone with nice sash windows is to make sure both the top and bottom are opened equally. The Victorians designed their windows so that cool air came in through the lower opening and warm air was pushed out through the upper one.
Cool the attic and defy the heat
The temperature in your attic can rise dramatically on a hot summer day. This is a situation that can increase your cooling costs by up to 40 percent if left unaddressed. Before insulating, seal recessed lights, vents and pipes and apply a vapor barrier. When insulating, place boards across the tops of joists to walk on, and when insulating, do not cover or wrap insulation around a bare stovepipe, electrical fixture, or other device that generates heat unless the fixture is for direct use Suitable for contact with the insulation. Otherwise you risk a fire.
Additionally, make sure your attic is ventilated. Gable windows can reduce attic temperatures by about 10 degrees. A ventilation system when renovating a roof can also be effective in reducing the attic temperature. When renovating, use white or light gray shingles instead of darker ones as they keep the attic cooler. The advantage is a longer service life of the shingles and up to 20%lower electricity costsfor cooling.
Grill more often and use the oven less often
Well, this is a home cooling tip that most homeowners or city dwellers with a courtyard can get behind. When temperatures rise, go outside and grill your meals instead of using the oven. This can only significantly increase the temperature indoors. Any device that generates heat contributes accordingly to the cooling load. An oven that bakes cookies, for example, can quickly increase the room temperature by 10 degrees, which in turn increases overall cooling costs by 2 to 5 percent.
Save the cooking for cooler hours or grill outdoors with friends or family. From pizza to grilled meat, there are numerous ways to prepare a meal on the grill. So get outside and experiment with the best meals summer has to offer. It is also a good idea to run the dishwasher and tumble dryer at night to effectively cool your home when it is hot.
How to cool your room using home remedies
A handy tip for staying cool indoors and overnight is to use a hot water bottle. However, instead of heating them, you can use your freezer and let them freeze. Or fill a regular bottle with tap water and place it in the freezer for a few hours before leaving the large piece of ice at the foot of your bed. To get a better night's sleep in hot weather, it is also recommended to use the refrigerator to cool down your bed linen before going to bed. Simply place your duvet and pillowcase in the refrigerator for a few hours to stay cool indoors on hot nights. Also, cool your socks in the refrigerator before bed as this will help lower your core body temperature.
Before going to bed, place your wrists under the running cold faucet and bathe your feet in cold water. Both will help lower your body temperature before you turn in for the night. If yours is really hot, you can also take a cold shower or even a cold bath to really cool down. Scientists have found that taking a bath before bed helps lower core body temperature, which in turn contributes to better sleep. Additionally, you can drink plenty of cold water throughout the day and always have a glass handy next to your bed so you can take a sip if you get too hot and dry at night.
When it is hot, keep your room and apartment cool with wet towels
Another simple trick you can use to combat heat waves is to use wet towels. This would be a cheap and useful alternative for apartments or houses thatcooled without air conditioningmust be. The method involves hanging cold, wet towels at entry points such as windows and doors throughout the home to cool down living spaces. It's best to use clean towels for this method, as this also creates a pleasant scent. Immerse them in cold water and simply hang them in a suitable place.
This hack allows trapped water to evaporate from the surface of the towels and cools the air flowing around. However, also be sure to use light-colored towels to reduce the amount of light they absorb when hung in the sun. As mentioned, dirty towels fill the room with damp and unpleasant smells. If you add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender in the washing machine or directly on it, they will smell even more pleasant.
