Cooling Down the House Without AC to Get You Through the Summer

Heat is making itself at home again, and for quite a while, making your daily activities difficult. You’d like to cool off a bit at the end of the day, when you get hoe, but it seems as though all the heat was stocked there. And you couldn’t afford air conditioning this summer either, so you need to find some alternative solutions. Here are a few tips on cooling down the house without AC.

Keep blinds down

Keep your blinds or drapes closed during the day, especially on those windows facing south and west. As simple as this tip may seem, it is quite effective, as that up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows.

Cooling down the house without AC. Replace bulbs

If you ever needed motivation to make the switch to CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, this is it. Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit, so tossing them to the curb will make a small difference in cooling your home while lowering your electric bill.

Take advantage of the slightest breeze

You can cool down a whole room by hanging a wet sheet in front of an open window. The breeze blowing in will quickly bring down the room’s temperature.

Cooling down the house without AC. The fan

Use one or more fans efficiently to really make a difference. Position a fan across from a window, so the wind from outside and the fan combine in a cooling cross-breeze.

Point box fans out the windows so they push hot air out, and adjust ceiling fan settings so the blades run counter-clockwise, pulling hot air up and out instead of just twirling it around the room.

Make a DIY air conditioner by positioning a shallow pan or bowl (a roasting pan works nicely) full of ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist.

Switch to salads and grills

Summer is not the time to whip up a piping hot casserole or roast chicken. Instead, chow down on cool, room-temperature dishes (salads, fruit etc.) to avoid generating any more heat in the house. It will have a good effect on your body too, because it has to produce less heat to metabolize a lighter meal. If hot food is in order, fire up the grill instead of turning on the oven.

Credits: greatist.com, huffingtonpost.com

Photo credits: homeenergysaver.ning.com