Summertime heat can make your home feel stuffy and miserable. Air conditioning use can get costly, quickly. And, some places you don’t even have air conditioning. I’ve put together a list ways to keep cool without air conditioning. This way, you can save money and keep cool all summer long. Surviving the heat of summer doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Table of Contents
Here are some ways to keep cool without air conditioning:
Grill Out!
Cook outside and take advantage of no-cook meals is a simple step in keeping cool without air conditioning. Cooking is the fastest way to heat your home up. To help keep your home cool, take the time to find alternatives to cooking such as sandwiches and salads for dinner or firing up the outdoor grill to keep from heating your home.
Reduce Use of Appliances
The stove is not the only thing that heats up your house. Look for other heat generating appliances like your dryer and even your dishwasher pushing out steam can heat your home. If you must use these appliances, use them at night when the temperature drops and the house has time to cool. An outdoor laundry line is your friend in the summer. Don’t forget the small heat producers like your TV and light bulbs that when left going while not in use heats your home even a small bit can make a difference in your families comfort.
Use Black-out Curtains
Block out the sun from windows to help keep the suns heat from bringing the temperature of your home up. A set of black-out curtains make a great investment to keep your home cool during the hot summer days. These heavy-duty curtains also allow you to sleep in or enjoy an afternoon nap without the heat (bonus!). In the winter the thickness helps to keep the cold out so you can leave them up year round.
Wind Tunnel Fans Are Your Friends
Circulate air through the house using heavy-duty wind tunnel fans. These strong, round fans help circulate air better than the standard box fan. Open windows on opposite sides of the house to allow air to move through the house bringing fresh cool air in and hot air out.
Use ice to help cool flowing air and bring down the temperature of your home. You can place frozen bottles of water in open windows or behind fans. You can use ice and a fan to create a homemade air conditioner for cooling small rooms. This is often used by families camping and can be useful in small rooms of your home as well.
Enjoy the Shade
Keep your family outside enjoying the shade, pool, or sprinkler. While your family is outside staying cool without air conditioning if they are not inside heating the house with body heat. This will keep your home cooler for when your family goes in at night. If you need to escape from the heat try visiting an indoor activity like the library, museum, or movie theater instead of escaping into the house.
Change the Linens
Change out winter linens and bedding for cooler lighter sheets, pillows, and if you need them to sleep, blankets that will help keep you cool. I’ve even heard of keeping a frozen bottle of water in bed with you to help lowering your body temperature.
If you are smart about taking advantage of simple cooling solutions and preventing your family from producing unnecessary heat in your home you can help keep your home cool this summer without air conditioning.
Comments & Reviews
Jessica Peresta says
These are great tips! We LOVE to grill out in the summer months and to sit in the shade.