How to cool down your house without air conditioner

It has been an extraordinarily hot summer, and ACs are going to be switched on around the clock. This is going to run the electricity bills high in all households. The truth is, temperatures have been steadily increasing over the years, due to global warming.

However, there are several cheaper alternatives to cooling your house with are also environmentally friendly.

1) Use circulating fans
Fans effectively cool down the temperatures in your house when set up properly. Set up several table fans in front of windows to create a cross-breeze. This method is not only cost and energy efficient, it also helps cool down the temperature in a room by circulating the air in the room, and blows a refreshing breeze by circulating the air that blows in from your windows.

2) Ice bowl fan
This is by far the cheapest method. Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan at an angle, with the fan directed towards you. As the fan blows over the ice cubes, you will feel the cool air bringing the temperature down, besides refreshing you. Once the ice cubes have melted, the cool water will continue cooling the room until the water becomes warm. You can just replace the ice then.

3) Shut the sun out
Close all blinds, drapes, and shades. You could also invest in heat resistant curtains or heat deflecting films for your windows. By doing so, you will prevent heat gain in your house, thus keeping your house cooler.

4) Plant trees
Planting shady trees around your house will reduce the heat and provide shade from direct sunlight. So while you can benefit from the natural light of the sun, the heat is reduced significantly. The evapotranspiration processes from the trees also help to cool down the surrounding areas. You also get the added benefit of improved air quality.

5) Turn off electronics
Electronic devices give off heat and consume a lot of electricity. Power down/ switch off electronic devices that are not being used, and only switch them on when they are going to be used. You can save money on electricity and cool down your house at one go.

6) Use reflective material on roofs
Your roofing materials should be painted a colour that reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it. Reflective panels also do the trick. If you really want to be environmentally conscious and economical, install solar panels so that the sunlight is absorbed by the panels and converted into electricity. Both these methods prevent sunlight from being absorbed by the roofing materials and trap the heat in the house.

7) Declutter and decorate
A cluttered room tends to feel very hot and cramped. Remove unnecessary décor and furniture, and go for a modern, minimalistic look. You can decorate your house with light, cooling colours and add potted plants to facilitate the cooling process.

8) Use a wet sheet
Hanging a wet sheet in front of a window will allow the breeze from outside the house blow through it, creating an immediate cooling effect in the room.

9) Don’t cook or cook outdoors
Cooking definitely raises the temperature in the house. Try prepping meals for the following day at night, and then pop it into the microwave the next day. Or this could be the perfect time to bring the old grill out of the garage!