To find refuge from hot weather, some alternative methods of cooling without air conditioning can be used in any home. When temperatures rise during the summer, turning on an air conditioner also means higher electricity bills. Even if you do, you may also want to save yourself the cost or be concerned about the environmental impact. Additionally, there are still many things and home remedies you can use to keep your home cool yourself. So here are a few easy and cheap ways to stay cool in the hot season even without air conditioning.
Practical and effective methods for cooling without air conditioning
The heat not only makes work more difficult, it also reduces productivity and even sleep doesn't bring any relief. For example, if your living space is small and heats up much more quickly and the air circulation is significantly worse than in large rooms, the hot season becomes a real challenge. So what are the best optionsCombat heat wavesand effectively cool your home without having to access technology? The following examples can help you if you prefer to cool yourself without air conditioning.
Carry out your own personal care with cold showers
Cold showers are a classic cooling down strategy, but don't forget the cold bath either. For example, when you fill your tub with cold water, it essentially becomes a tiny swimming pool located in the comfort of your home. Start by getting your hair wet, but you don't have to wash it completely. So it feels good to cool your head first when you're really hot. Then fill the tub with cool, refreshing water and jump in. Don't be afraid to linger. You can even bring a drink and a book and make it a relaxing afternoon or evening. For maximum core temperature reduction, try submerging your upper body for at least part of your bath.
If you want to take your cold shower or bath experience to the next level, you may want to invest in some peppermint essential oil products. In addition to soaps and toiletries, you can also use yoursMake your own body scrubby combining Epsom salt, coconut oil, and a few drops of peppermint oil. Apply the home remedy and scrub it off: the cooling sensation of peppermint oil lasts longer than the shower, and you'll be left with silky-smooth skin to boot.
Keep windows and doors closed and equip them with blinds or curtains
It may sound counterintuitive to keep windows and doors closed in the summer, but they let in about 25% of summer heat. So, to enable cooling without air conditioning, you can block heat with blinds or curtains during the sunniest hours of the day. For those who find it difficult to survive without fresh air, this can be a challenge, but the few hours will be worth it. Colored curtains with a white plastic backing are suitable for this, with which you can reduce the heat inside. Some people even choose blackout curtains to keep windows covered and block sunlight completely.
If you also spend most of your time in one room, you might consider closing the doors to the rooms you don't use as often. These would be bedrooms or bathrooms. Blocking off parts of the house keeps cooler air concentrated in a single area and can help the room you use the most cool faster and stay that way. If you have doors with gaps at the bottom, and especially those that lead outside, invest in insulation. Weatherstripping, for example, is a cost-effective option that you can install yourself. This is considered a winter measure, but is just as helpful in summer as it prevents cool air from escaping through doors and windows.
Limit the use of ovens and other large appliances
Outdated equipment can make the heat problem worse. So put your Sunday roast on ice, because nothing heats up a room like an oven. Burners also give off some heat, so be strategic about the kitchen appliances you use. Instead, opt for outdoor grilling or a seasonal summer recipe that doesn't require heat. If you absolutely must use the oven, wait until the outside air cools down later at night and open some windows. Save the operation of ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washers and dryers for the evening hours, when cooler temperatures balance their performance.
Use ceiling fans and fans correctly
If you prefer cooling without air conditioning in a house or apartment, fans can be your best friend as long as you use them correctly. Because fans move air rather than cooling it, what you do with such a device and where you place it is important. Adjust your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise. Additionally, in summer, the propellers should rotate counterclockwise to push air directly downward. Increase the speed on really hot days.
Creating a cross breeze with fans is the best way to circulate cooler air and push out hot air. Find the coolest part of your house (either the coolest room or outside air from a window in the shade) and aim the fan at the hottest part of your house. This should help pull in cooler air from one side of the house and push the hotter air out.
For a makeshift DIY air conditioner, try placing a large bowl of ice cubes at an angle in front of a fan. This simple life hack blows the cold air that comes from the ice into the room.
Consider dehumidifiers and regulate humidity
Damp heat is much more unpleasant for people and animals than dry heat. Dehumidifiers suck the moisture out of the warm summer air in your home, making it much more comfortable even at higher temperatures. Ideally, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent. To save on electricity costs, use a device that turns off when the humidity drops below the desired level. To make things even more sustainable, use the water collected by the dehumidifier to water your plants.
If you live in a humid climate, the humidity can make the summer heat even worse. While a dehumidifier won't lower the room temperature, it will help control the sticky, thick air that makes hot days even more uncomfortable. Because humidity reduces the evaporation rate of sweat, people often feel much hotter and sweatier in humid weather, so investing in a dehumidifier can make your home more comfortable during the humid months.
Replace light bulbs with LED bulbs for cooling without air conditioning
Incandescent bulbs waste an estimated 90 percent of their energy in the heat they give off. So if you're trying to cool a room without air conditioning, small changes like switching to CFL bulbs can have a big impact while reducing your electric bill. It's not just kitchen appliances that cause unnecessary heat in summer.
Light bulbs are another culprit, albeit a less obvious one. As mentioned, they give off the most heat by wasting 90% of the energy they use. Therefore, changing LED bulbs can make a difference in keeping your home cool. An added bonus is energy efficient light bulbs, which will also help reduce your electricity bill.
- Your next biggest ally in the fight against the heat is running quietly in your kitchen: your fridge and freezer. However, this doesn't mean you should open it and try to stay cool by standing in front of it. This is actually a terrible idea, but you should use these devices to cool things that touch your body. For example, make more room in your freezer for a few wet towels or even a bed sheet or two. Your body will thank you when it's time to go to bed in the evening.
- You can also put clothes like underwear or shirts in the freezer for an extra boost of freshness when getting dressed. This can be especially helpful when you get out of the shower and immediately start sweating.
- Whether you buy special sheets and pillows or simply throw your own washcloths in the freezer, it helps to know your body's best cooling spots. Draping a cool washcloth over your neck, wrists, inside elbows, or backs of your knees will helpLower body temperature more quickly, than putting one over your forehead, even if it feels good. Here's how to get the most out of your cold compresses or semi-frozen water bottles.
- Also tryPlanting vines for sun protection. Adding climbing plants works similarly to installing an awning. Vines like ivy grow quickly and provide cooling shade. The climbing plants reduce the temperature by blocking the sunlight that heats the outside walls.
- Finally, if you live in a place where the temperature drops at night, consider yourself lucky and open the windows before bed. Working with outside temperatures can save you money and help keep your home cool. Just make sure you close the windows again in the morning to keep the cool air in before it gets too hot outside.
