How To Keep Your House Cool In The Summer Heat (Without Turning On The AC)

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June 10, 2017

When it gets warm, it’s natural to crank up the AC or sit in front of a fan.

The challenge is that it’s pretty darn expensive to do either.

You may not know it, but there are plenty of alternatives for staying cool without cranking up both your AC and electric bill.

Here are a few of our favorites…

CLOSE YOUR BLINDS

Almost 35% of summer heat comes from your windows.

Utilizing blinds, shades, and curtains has been known to save almost 10% on energy bills.

Simply closing your blinds keeps your house from becoming a miniature greenhouse. Especially if you have windows facing east and/or west.

TURN ON THE BATHROOM FANS

To cool your home, you can turn on your bathroom fans or even the exhaust fan in your kitchen.

Both of them extract hot air and push it up in the attic or outside.

ALTER YOUR BEDDING

For starters, you can use a cool-inducing “Chillow” as a pillow.

As far as your feet, you can fill a hot water bottle and put it in the freezer. Then after it freezes, place it at the foot of your bed.

As weird as it sounds – slightly dampening your bed sheets will also help you stay cool.

CLOSE DOORS

Close the door of any room not being utilized.

This prevents cool air from getting into those areas – thus going elsewhere.

GET “FAN” CREATIVE

You can simulate a sea breeze by filling a mixing bowl with ice and position it at an angle in front of a large fan.

When you do this, the cool air lifts off the ice at a chilled, and misty temperature.

COOL FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Sip cool drinks throughout the day.

Apply a cool cloth to strong-pulsed areas like your wrists and neck.

Also wear cool, climate-appropriate clothing.

LIGHTEN UP THE SHEETS

Switching up bedding freshens up a room and can also keep you cool.

Flannel sheets and fleece blankets are great for colder times of the year.

In the warmer months, cotton is a better choice. It breathes easier and stays cooler.

Also, get a buckwheat pillow or two. Buckwheat hulls have a naturally occurring air space between them, they won’t hold on to your body heat like conventional pillows.

SET CEILING FANS TO COUNTERCLOCKWISE

Your ceiling fan should be adjusted seasonally.

Set it to rotate counter-clockwise in the summer at a higher speed. The fan’s airflow will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you and your guests “feel” cooler.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NIGHT AIR

During the summer months, temperatures may drop during the night.

If this happens, where you live, crack the windows before you go to bed.

You can also create a wind tunnel by strategically setting up your fans to force the perfect cross breeze. Just be sure to close the windows and blinds before the room gets hot again in the morning.

REMOVE ALL INCANDESCENT BULBS

Replace them with CFLs or compact fluorescent lamps.

Incandescent bulbs waste about 90% of their energy in the heat they emit.

USE THE GRILL

Using your oven or stove in the summer will heat your house.

MAKE HOME IMPROVEMENTS

You can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it much cooler.

Get insulated window films, for an effect similar to blinds.

You can also add awnings, trees, and vines to block light-facing windows. They will help shield your home from the sun’s rays, reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs, and make your investment worthwhile.

Hopefully you found some great tips for keeping your home cool!

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