Come summer and the air conditioner in each home would start working overtime. Although this helps to keep the house cool, it can be very burdensome on the electricity bill. Alternatively, there are some low-tech and more eco-friendly ways to keep your home cool this summer. Here are 7 such pointers that you will find extremely useful.
Install awnings over windows
Your windows absorb most of the heat during summer, thus heating up the indoor air in the process. Installing awnings over the windows would ensure that the sunshine doesn’t fall directly on the windows. This way, you will experience at least a 70% reduction in indoor heat. So make it a point to install awnings above the windows to keep your home cool in summer.
Plant vines along the outer walls
While trees can help provide enough shade to keep your home cool during summer, planting a tree would not be an option if you do not have enough space in your yard or happen to live in an apartment. In this case, you can opt to plant a vine that will grow along the outer walls of your home. The vine will absorb most of the sun’s rays and keep the indoors cools and comfortable even if it is scorching hot outside.
Tune your windows appropriately
In addition to simply opening and closing them in summer and winter, there are plenty of ways in which you can tune the windows. For summer, the window should ideally let some light in, but keep the hot air out.
For instance, if you happen to have double hung windows, consider opening the upper section of the downwind side and the lower section of the upwind side. This will allow cool air to move through your house. Similarly, having larger outlets and smaller inlets will increase the amount of cool air that blows into your home as well as the amount of hot air that leaves your home.
Paint the roof
Painting the roof of your home white would help it reflect most of the sun’s heat. Better yet, you can opt for a paint with reflective coating that would help reflect more of the sun’s UV rays. This, in turn, would keep the indoors cool, considering the fact that the roof would absorb only a portion of the sun’s rays when compared to before.
Install an attic fan
The attic tends to absorb a lot of heat and send it indoors during summer. In order to prevent this, consider installing a fan in the attic. Not only will this deflect the heat entering the attic, but it would also push the cooler air downwards, thus making your home cooler during the day irrespective of the temperature outside.
Heat proof the living space
Like in the winter when the cold air seems to filter in through nooks, crannies and leaks, the hot air would find its way into your home through these areas in the summer. So make it a point to seal off all cracks and broken air vents in the home. This would ensure that the hot air finds no place to enter the home, thus keeping the indoor air cool and comfortable.
Reduce heat by conserving energy
A lot of us do not know that the light bulbs we tend to use on a daily basis can give off heat as well. Incandescent light bulbs are known to generate a lot of heat that can quickly spread across the house and heat the indoor air. By replacing these bulbs with CLFs or LEDs, you can reduce the amount of heat circulating indoors.
Another point to be noted here is that it is considered wise to switch of lights and fans, as well as plug out the electronic devices that are not being used at the moment. Many electronic devices generate heat even when they are switched off. So remove their plug from the socket to ensure that they stop generating heat. This would help prevent the indoor air from heating up.
The summer season is the time when people start using their air conditioners more to keep indoor air cool and comfortable. Rather than using the AC, there are plenty of other non-tech ways to reduce indoor heat, including planting vines, installing awnings, tuning the windows, painting the roof and installing an attic fan etc.
