Tips for Keeping Your House Cool During Summer
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Summertime is already here. While it brings us many exciting opportunities for adventure, it does bring in one discomfort- the extreme summer heat. We’re not looking forward to facing that when we’re just sulking around the house either. Now, your option here would be to crank up your AC till it gets as cold as the Arctic. But that’s not the most practical option. But thankfully, there are ways for you to keep your home cool during the summer without the use of AC. Though this article NestApple will educate you: keeping your house cool during summer is our mission!
Dehumidify Yourself
Living in an area with dry heat can leave you sweating but at the same time, your sweat evaporates so your body is able to cool off. But if you happen to live in a tropical area where you sweat and it doesn’t evaporate, then that’s uncomfortable because you’re left with a wet shirt, underwear, and socks. Instead of wearing tight outfits for the summer, wear loose clothing to let in air as you do your activities. Loose cotton is the preferred material, or you can go with moisture-wicking clothing too. For the home, you can also use a dehumidifier, which removes excess moisture from the air and leaves the home feeling cooler even in hot temperatures.
Unplug Appliances
Every time you plug something into a socket, it produces heat. To reduce heat around your home, unplug electronics that aren’t in use, such as the coffee maker, blender, the toaster, or even the emergency lights that you always leave plugged for charging.
Use Natural Light
Similar to unplugging, don’t turn on the lights unless you really have to. Even though, if you have just bought your new home, you want to use as much lightning as possible, in order to enjoy every corner of the house, however, try to rely more on natural daylight to light up the entire house. Open the curtains, open the windows when you have to so you get all the natural lighting in and a cool breeze every now and then.
Keeping Your House Cool During Summer: Cook Outdoors
The summer months can be hot inside, so why not take the opportunity to cook outdoors? Plan your meals by cooking on the grill or microwave or crockpot all throughout the day. If you need to use the oven, use it later in the afternoon instead.
Close Blinds From Late Morning to Early Evening
Shades are more than just for preventing people from looking inside your house. They provide insulation too, especially in the day time. Closing your blinds between late morning and early evening can significantly lower room temperature by as much as 15 degrees.
If you don’t want blinds, invest in blackout curtains. They provide natural insulation for the rooms they are installed in. If you do plan on buying one, get neutral-colored curtains with plastic backings to reduce heat gain by as much as 33%!
Learn To Use Ceiling Fans The Right Way
I’ve been using ceiling fans the wrong way, and I’m here to tell you the right way to use it. The base of the ceiling fan has a small switch that can change the direction of the airflow. If you want the fan to blow cooler air, switch the direction forward by having it rotate counter-clockwise. This forces air down and makes you feel cooler. During the winter months, have the fan rotate clockwise to circulate air around the room and not directly on you.
Use Outdoor Shades For Windows
A dark house in the summer can be too depressing, so if you don’t feel like closing all of your blinds throughout the day, use outdoor shades. Outdoor shades can be installed over the windows that still allows light to pass through but blocks the heat.
Keeping Your House Cool During Summer: Use Vents To Let Hot Air Out
Use your stovetop vents, bathroom vents, and even laundry room vents to dump heat from showering and cooking outside.
Keeping Your House Cool During Summer: Cool Yourself Off
The best way to keep your house cool during the summer is to cool yourself off. Your ancestors survived summer months without AC Units, and so can you. Every now and then, enjoy a glass of iced water or drinks, apply a cold cloth to strong-pulsed areas like the wrist and neck, or even cool yourself off outside. If you feel warm during the night, have a bowl of cool water and dip your feet in before you go to bed.
Keeping Your House Cool During Summer: Stop Using Incandescent Lights
If you need a big reason to switch to CFL’s or compact fluorescent lamps, this would be it. Incandescent bulbs waste 90% of their energy in the heat they produce, so toss them to the curb and get yourself CFL’s. Not only will you have a significantly cooler house, but you’ll also have a lower electricity bill too.
With these tips, you don’t need to turn on the air-conditioning units at full blast all throughout summer. Keeping your house cool during the summer, we hope we were able to help!
Georges has been working in Wall Street for the last 16 years trading derivatives with hedge funds. He has been an active real estate investor for over a decade. Georges graduated from HEC Business School in Paris and holds a master in Finance from ESADE Barcelona.
