Natural, no-brainer ways to keep your house cool this summer

People hate a hot and sticky room. During summer, everyone wishes for a house which remains cool, even when the mercury reaches 40.

So, how can you keep your house cool this summer?

Forget about AC. We’re not talking about increased energy consumption and high electricity bills.

There are several natural ways that you can use to cool down your house without using AC.

By applying natural home cooling techniques, you won’t just contribute towards conserving energy but will also bring down your cooling costs.

Does it sound like a good idea?

If you’re ready, here are a number of ways you can use to prepare your house for steamy summer months – naturally.

Get Removable Shades

A good idea to keep the summer heat away is to buy some removable shades from the market and use it around the house.

What creating shades does is that it prevents sunshine from directly entering your house.

When sunshine doesn’t fall directly on the walls and surfaces of your house, it is easy to create a cooling effect.

Since the shades that you use are removable, you can remove them without any hassle after summer.

Know When and How to Open Windows

If your house has windows that can be opened, you can try a strategic approach to get relief from the summer heat.

Don’t keep your windows open at all times. Use your upstairs and downstairs windows in a scientific manner.

Open the downstairs windows on that side of the house where there is shade.

And open the upstairs windows to that side which is hot.

Now, what you need to do is attach a portable window mounted fan to the upstairs window.

This technique conforms to the well-known theory that hot air goes up.

It helps build air pressure in a way which pushes hot air out of your house.

Also, don’t forget to keep your windows closed during the day time or when you are out, when temperature is high.

Use Thermal Mass

Have you heard about thermal mass? If you haven’t, thermal mass is a mass of solid material like stone or concrete.

Using thermal mass is a proven, natural way to cool down your house.

It can be installed in your house to absorb and store heat during summer, while keeping your house cool.

During the day, the thermal mass stores solar energy that your house receives.

If you plan to reduce your cooling costs, this is a good idea that you can apply in your house.

Be Fan Savvy

Don’t ignore fans, as they can be your best friend when you want to keep your house cool during summer.

You’ll find fans of all shapes and sizes in the market. Have them in areas you want and use them to your advantage.

If you let your creative juices flow, fans can help you more than you think. There are box fans that you can place at your windows to push hot air out.

Set the blades of your ceiling fans anti-clockwise.

Now when the ceiling fan moves, it will pull the hot air up and out instead of blowing the hot air around. A good idea, indeed!

Grow Vines and Shrubs

Trees take a long time to grow. But there are many other plants and flowers that you can grow in one season.

On getting sunlight, plants give out oxygen, gas and water.

When the water starts to evaporate, plants soak up heat and create a cooling effect around. Grow some vines where sunlight hits your house directly.

Walls and roofs are prominent places where you can have vines and flowering plants grow.

In this way, you can both create some natural shades and keep your house cool and comfortable in summer.

Have Your House Insulated

Adding insulation is also a natural way of cooling down your house.

While in the beginning, you may think it is expensive. But once you get it done, you can save money throughout the year.

Insulation is something which works both in summer and winter. The main function of insulation is to prevent heat transfer.

So, when it’s too hot outside, the insulation will work as a barrier and the hot air outside will not be able pass through.

First of all, you need to identify the key areas which get very hot during summer.

Once you know which those areas are, you can get them insulated for relief from heat during summer.

Particularly, your loft and walls are the key areas where insulation is required.

Solid wall insulation helps you cool down the house without AC. So, get your house well-insulated, if you haven’t done it yet.

Go for Cotton

When you want to stay cool during summer, anything that promotes airflow and ventilation is a good idea.

What kind of sheets do you use in your bedroom? If they’re made up of material such as polyester or satin or silk, you can’t enjoy cooler nights.

Go for bed sheets that are made of cotton and lightweight. Likewise, wear soft cotton shirts and trousers.

Going nude is not a good idea, because it won’t remove the sweat that you have on your body.

Soft cotton, breathable fabric will, on the other hand, wick your body sweat away.

Make a DIY Air-Conditioner

The very first refrigerators were not like the ones you have today. They were simply ice boxes with blocks of ice in them.

You don’t need to do exactly that. But here is something that’s inspired from the same concept. Create a DIY air conditioner.

Get a table fan and place a pan full of ice in front of it. Now, when you switch on the fan, it will create a cool breeze and you’ll enjoy it too.

Use Lights as Less as Possible

It’s a no-brainer. You know it already that all electric bulbs (even the CFLs and the LEDs) release heat.

Usually, the days in summer are longer and this means you have lots of natural light until late into the evenings.

Use this opportunity to keep your light bulbs turned off, as much as you can.

Using lights minimally is an easy and effective way to stay cool.

Do you have any more tips to add?