The summer is upon us. You may be thinking about throwing BBQ & pool parties, and playing beach sports. But the pandemic isn’t over yet. And the summer is going to be hotter than average, as predicted by meteorologists. So, you’ve to stay at home, not just because of the Covid-19, but due to the harsh summer.
Staying at home means more energy bills as you crank up the air conditioner to keep your home cool. But hey, we have some tips so that you can cool a house in summer naturally. By following these simple steps, not only can you avoid increasing the cost of air conditioning, but can also play your part in controlling greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation.
#1 Hack Your Windows to Keep Your Home Cool
Do you know that more than 25% of summer heat enters your house through the windows? By covering your windows, you can block this heat and keep your home cool without air conditioning.
1) Use blinds or shades
Close the blinds or shades during the sunniest hours to stop the summer heat entering your home through windows.
2) Open top section of windows
You can keep the top section and bottom sections of your opened windows to the downwind and upwind sides respectively. This will let the cool wind enter the house from the top section and hot air escape the house from the lower section.
3) Open windows after sunset
Keep your windows open at night to let the cool breeze circulate in your house.
4) Use cooling curtains
Another great way for home improvement during summer is to use cooling curtains. You can spray cold water on your curtains, which will make the passing air cooler and fresher.
5) Install insulated films at windows
By installing insulated film on your windows, you can reduce the infrared heat up to 99%.
6) Install windows awning
If you want to keep your home cool, install awning above the windows to protect your house from direct sun rays.
#2 Stop Baking & Washing during Daylight
Dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ranges, ovens, and similar large appliances emit a large amount of heat. You can perform all these functions at night to avoid storing extra heat in your house during the day.
#3 Keep Furnace Fan On
Whether you’re cooking or not, keep the fan over your furnace on. This fan will keep the air moving around, which will reduce the temperature inside your house.
#4 Buy a Dehumidifier
Moist heat irritates more than dry heat does. So, use a dehumidifier to suck the moisture from your house. To keep your home cool, you should maintain the indoor humidity at around 50%.
#5 Keep Inside Doors Open
If you’re not using air conditioning, you should keep the inside doors of your house open to let the air flow freely within all rooms.
#6 Keep Bathroom Fans On
Exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchen throw hot air out of your house, so keep them on.
#7 Install Fans in Right Place
Ceiling fans push hot air from upside down, whereas pedestal fans or fans installed on walls keep the cooler air moving around.
#8 Replace Incandescent Lights
Incandescent bulbs emit more heat than the light they produce. So, replace them with compact fluorescent lights or keep them off.
#9 Insulate Walls
You can also take a few long-term measures to keep your home cool in the summers. For example, insulating your walls can keep the cooler air in and hot air out of your house.
#10 Try Planting
Another long-term measure could be planting vines and other plants near your windows and entrance. You can try ivy, which grows very quickly and acts as a cooling shade.