Summer is well on its way and with it comes the rising temperatures. Cranking up your air conditioner can use a lot of electricity which can cost you a pretty penny. But there are ways to reduce costs in the summer months while keeping your home cool.
Here Are 15 Ways To Cool Your Home Without Cranking Up The AC:
1) Invest In Blackout Curtains
These bad boys insulate your home from harsh temperatures. So, they block out the sun and heat in the summer and keep out the cold in the winter. Neutral-colored curtains with a white plastic backing are said to reduce heat gain by 33 percent in the summer.
2) Switch Up Your Sheets
Most of us like heavy textiles like flannel or fleece on our beds in the winter. These should be switched out for lighter fabrics like cotton in the summer which breath easier and stay cooler. You might want to also invest in buckwheat pillow which allows air to flow in between the buckwheat hulls so they don’t capture body heat.
3) Hack Your Fan
Keeping your AC off or not having one at all will definitely cut down on your energy bill. But you can fake it. Fill a bowl with ice or an ice pack and place it in front of a fan so the cold from the ice can chill the room.
4) Fans Set Counter-Clockwise
If you use your fans year-round they should be adjusted seasonally. Set your fan to go counter-clockwise in the summer at a higher speed. This creates a wind-chill breeze effect.
5) Change Your Light Bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs give off heat. So, you’ll want to get rid of them and switch to compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs as they burn out. Incandescent light bulbs are said to waste 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit.
6) Turn Your Exhaust Fans On
You can leave your bathroom and or kitchen exhaust fans on in the summer. They will suck out the rising hot air out of the room. This is a must when you’re cooking, showering, or doing something that gives off heat.
7) Cool Your Bed Down
You can place an ice pack under your pillow to keep it cooler. You can also try freezing a water bottle and placing it at the foot of your bed to keep everything cool. Another trick is to toss your sheets in the freezer before bedtime for an ultra chill sleep.
8) Get Low to The Ground
We all know that heat rises. If you’re looking for a good night’s rest on a night without AC you’ll have to get low. Try sleeping on the downstairs or basement couch or putting your mattress on the floor where the air is cooler.
9) Make Your Windows Work For You
Open the top section of your window on the downwind side of your house. Open the bottom section of the window on the upwind side. This will create a cooling pressure current.
10) Regulate Your Body Temperature
There was a time when air conditioners didn’t exist and people survived just fine. Drink some iced drinks or foods, or use a cold cloth on areas like your neck and wrists to cool yourself from the inside. Also, try wearing cool colors and lighter fabrics. Or try dipping your feet in some cold water.
11) Close Your Blinds And Curtains During the Day
About 30 percent of heat comes from your windows. Closing your blinds in the summer to keep out heat can lower your energy bills by 7 percent. It can also lower the temperature inside by about 20 degrees.
12) Close the Doors
You’ll want to close your doors, as well as your windows during the day. This will keep the cool air in the room where you are sitting. Leaving the doors open just leaves more space that needs to be cool which takes longer and requires more energy. You can open them back up at night when it’s cooler out.
13) Open the Windows Air Night
Open up your windows at night and let the cooler air in. You’ll also want to throw on your fan. You can strategically place fans placing fans to create a cross breeze and wind tunnel effect.
14) Push Hot Air Out
You can try pushing the hot air out of your home too. Place a box fan outward in one window to push the hot air out. This will help cool your room down.
15) Use a Wet Sheet
Cold wet sheets can help too. Place a cold wet sheet in front of an open window at night or on a window at the downwind side of your house. This will create a chilly breeze in your room.
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