If you don’t have an air conditioning unit, wish to keep your energy costs low, or just do not trust your home’s old cooling system to function efficiently, we’ve come up with the most cost-effective and simple ways to keep your home cool this summer.
Change your ceiling fan
Make sure to adjust the ceiling fan’s setting so that the blades spin clockwise during summer. This adjustment to the fan’s speed forces air into the room, causing an effect of wind chill that can make the room appear more comfortable (even if it’s not). It’s a good thing that you can alter the direction of rotation during the seasons to make the most of your home’s cooling and heating.
Replace your bulbs
Traditional incandescent bulbs convert about 90% of the energy they consume into heat, while just 5-10% is converted to light. If you switch to compact fluorescents, LED bulbs, your lighting system will not create heating to your home. Additionally, these kinds are more durable and consume less energy, which means you’ll save cash in the end, in addition to your cooling bills. Are you unsure whether to spend more money on LED bulbs? Lloyd Alter provides a great explanation of the various types of LEDs as well as his experiences in converting his house to 100 percent LED lighting for Treehugger.com.
Switch off your lights
Better than replacing the bulb in your light, try to make use of as little artificial light as you can. The longer days mean that you’ll have natural sunlight to illuminate the day. Make sure to turn the light off after you leave the room, and let the sun be your guide throughout your outdoor activities.
Unplug electronic devices
While they appear to be insignificant even though they appear to be, your electronics still consume power when they are plugged into the outlet but not switched on. You can unplug your television or charger, as well as computers, when they’re not in use to prevent the generation of passive heat.
Keep away from your stove
You’re now ready to be creative when it comes to summer meal preparation. Making use of your oven or stove during the summer months can dramatically increase the temperature inside your home. After all the effort you’ve made to stop warm air from entering, why would you want to make an internal source of heat?
There’s a reason that grilled foods are a staple of the summer months, and it’s time to start grilling the barbecue. To cook on the stovetop, try setting up an electric skillet outside to cook with ease. It is possible to cook any food you’d sauté or fry on an electric skillet, without having to get your hands on the stove. If you do not have a patio for keeping the heat outside instead of cooking in the stove, use your slow cooker in the evening to ensure that the appliance is in operation during the coldest period of the day, which results in a lower heating bill for your home.
Install blackout curtains for your windows
Blinds or curtains shut during summer keep your home from turning into an enviro-garden, particularly in the case of windows that face west or south. The addition of curtains with blackouts to your windows will help in keeping heat out in the summer. It is said that the Department of Energy claims that “Studies have shown that medium-colored curtains with white plastic backings can cut heat losses by 33%.. Find more sophisticated energy-efficient window treatment options to block the summer heat out on Energy
Take into consideration outdoor windows
Set up tightly-woven screens or bamboo shades around the window in the summertime to prevent 60 % to 80% of solar heat from escaping the windows. If you are renting your property, be sure to inquire with the property’s landlord or HOA regarding the permitted outdoor window shades.
The windows should be opened at night
It can be helpful to rid your home of heat that is not needed by venting when the temperature is higher outside than inside. For better the flow of air, window fans should be situated on the side that is downwind of the house, facing outside. A window must be open in every room. Doors in the interior must be open to let air flow.
Hack your floor fan
Mix a mixing bowl of ice (or similar cold items like an ice pack or an ice block) and place it near a large ceiling fan so that air whipped off the ice is in a super-cold, extra-misty temperature. We guarantee it’s magical. Place the ice block (in an oven large enough to accommodate the amount of water) on top of the air conditioner. Create a fake air conditioner!
Make sure you tint your windows:
If you’re not ready to commit to the latest window treatments, or you don’t like the thought of securing the outdoor view of your windows for the entire summer, try temporary tinting solutions to tint your windows. You can buy windows with UV blockers that stick to the window for a temporary solution to reduce heat and can even help prevent bleaching or fading of the flooring near window
