When summer approaches, higher temperatures become more prevalent. Utilizing your air conditioning system extensively can lead to a significant increase in electricity consumption, resulting in higher expenses.
However, there exist strategies to decrease your expenditures during the summer season while still maintaining a comfortably cool indoor environment.
Outlined below are 15 methods to effectively cool your residence without heavily relying on air conditioning.
Blackout curtains


These effective insulators provide your home with protection against extreme temperatures. By shielding against both the sun’s intense heat in the summer and the cold in the winter, they offer year-round comfort.
Curtains in neutral shades featuring a white plastic backing have been shown to decrease heat absorption by 33 percent during the summer months.
Switch up those sheets
Many of us prefer cozy fabrics such as flannel or fleece for our bedding during the colder winter months. However, it’s advisable to swap these out for lighter materials like cotton as summer arrives.
Cotton fabrics breathe more easily and maintain a cooler feel.
Additionally, considering a buckwheat pillow could be beneficial, as it enables air circulation between the buckwheat hulls, preventing the retention of body heat.


Fan hack
Opting to keep your air conditioning off or not having one altogether can certainly lead to reduced energy costs. However, there’s a way to replicate the cooling effect.
Simply place a bowl filled with ice or an ice pack in front of a fan. This setup allows the cold emanating from the ice to effectively cool down the room, providing a similar sensation to air conditioning.


Set those fans counter-clockwise
For those who utilize fans throughout the year, it’s important to make seasonal adjustments. During the summer, set your fan to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and operate at a higher speed.
This configuration generates a wind-chill effect, producing a refreshing breeze that helps cool the surroundings.


Switch out those bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs emit heat, which can contribute to warmth indoors. To address this, it’s advisable to replace them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as they need replacement.
Incandescent bulbs are known to dissipate around 90 percent of their energy as heat, making them highly inefficient in terms of energy usage. By transitioning to CFLs, you can significantly reduce heat generation and energy wastage.


Use those exhaust fans
During the summer, it’s beneficial to keep your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans running. These fans effectively extract the accumulating hot air from the room, providing a cooling effect.
This practice becomes especially important when engaging in activities such as cooking, showering, or any task that generates heat, as it helps maintain a more comfortable indoor environment.


Cool that bed
Enhance your sleeping comfort in the summer with these cooling tips:
- Slide an ice pack beneath your pillow to maintain a cooler sleeping surface.
- Experiment with freezing a water bottle and positioning it at the foot of your bed to impart a cool sensation throughout.
- Prior to bedtime, consider placing your sheets in the freezer for an exceptionally refreshing sleep experience.


Get closer to the ground
It’s a common understanding that heat tends to ascend. To ensure a restful night’s sleep during AC-free nights, it’s advisable to seek cooler areas.
Experiment with sleeping on a downstairs or basement couch, where the air tends to be cooler.
Alternatively, placing your mattress on the floor can also help you benefit from the lower temperatures and achieve a more comfortable sleep.


Utilize those windows
To foster a cooling airflow within your home, consider this window ventilation technique:
- Open the upper section of windows situated on the downwind side of your house.
- Simultaneously, open the lower section of windows on the upwind side of your house.
This strategic approach generates a pressure-driven current of air, promoting a cooling and refreshing indoor environment.


Watch your body’s temperature
Before the existence of air conditioners, people successfully employed various natural methods to stay cool.
These included consuming cold drinks, using cold cloths on pulse points, wearing light-colored and lightweight clothing, and enjoying the cooling sensation of dipping feet in cold water.
These strategies ensured comfort and relief from heat even without the convenience of modern air conditioning.


Shut those blinds and curtains
Approximately 30 percent of indoor heat is generated through windows. During the summer, closing your blinds can effectively prevent heat from entering, resulting in a potential 7 percent reduction in energy expenses.
Moreover, this practice can lead to a notable decrease of around 20 degrees in indoor temperatures, contributing to a more comfortable living environment.


Close those doors
During the daytime, a recommended approach is to keep both doors and windows closed. This helps contain the cool air within the specific room you are occupying.
Leaving doors open only increases the area that needs cooling, thereby prolonging the process and necessitating more energy consumption.
However, in the cooler evening hours, it’s beneficial to open doors and windows to allow natural ventilation and cooler air to flow in.


Open your windows at night
In the evenings, take advantage of the cooler air by opening your windows. Additionally, consider using a fan to enhance the airflow.
Placing fans strategically can help create a cross breeze and a wind tunnel effect, effectively distributing the cooler air throughout your living space.
This combination of open windows and well-placed fans can contribute to a more comfortable and refreshing indoor atmosphere.


Push hot air out
Another effective approach is to expel hot air from your living space. Position a box fan facing outward in one of your windows to push the hot air outwards.
This simple technique aids in cooling down your room by facilitating the circulation of fresher and cooler air indoors.


Use a wet sheet
Using cold wet sheets can be a helpful cooling method as well. To implement this, place a damp, cold sheet in front of an open window during the night, or position it on a window on the downwind side of your house.
This clever tactic generates a refreshing and chilly breeze within your room, contributing to a more comfortable sleep environment.


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