This summer, you can keep yourself and your home cool while still being environmentally friendly. Here’s how to do it.
Summer means barbecues, beach cricket, and pool dips for many folks.
However, there are days when the scorching summer sun isn’t so enjoyable, and turning on the air conditioner at home appears to be your only option.
We’ve all had those moments when you simply want to convert your house into a freezer and forget about your next quarter’s electricity bill. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the increased energy consumption involved with cooling dwellings in the summer contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Check out these ten methods to keep you and your home cool, save money, and be environmentally friendly:
1. Draw the blinds.
Close your blinds, especially on north and west-facing windows, to keep your home cool. Better still, invest in some block-out drapes to keep the sun out of your home throughout the summer.
2. Turn off the heat
Spending less on cooling requires preventing heat from entering your home in the first place. External coverings such as shades, awnings, or huge potted plants can provide shade for windows and walls. Plant deciduous trees that provide shade in the summer yet allow the sun to flow through in the winter. If you can, get window tinting and upgrade your ceiling insulation to assist keep the heat in throughout the winter.
3. Just a degree or two more
If you must use the air conditioner, set the temperature to between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius, or as high as you are comfortable. In hot weather, increasing your thermostat by merely 1°C can save you roughly 10% on your appliance’s operating costs.
If you want to replace your air conditioner, seek for one with a high energy-star rating and do your homework to make sure you get the correct one for your home.
4. Make ceiling fan adjustments
Ceiling fans may appear to push hot air around your home rather than cool it down at times. You are correct — fans that do not rotate counter-clockwise may be doing exactly that!
In the summer, set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise to force air straight down, creating a cooling effect, and clockwise in the winter to pull cool air up. Set the fan speed to high when it’s hot outside, and low when it’s cold outside. Ceiling fans can also be used to complement other methods of cooling, so making sure they rotate in the right direction can make a big impact in your home’s temperature.
5. Close all doors and gaps.
To keep cool air where you need it most, close doors to rooms you aren’t utilizing. To keep cool air from escaping, seal gaps around doors and windows and use draught excluders.
Note: If you open some doors and windows to promote air movement through the house, evaporative air conditioners will be more effective.
6. Spend time with friends in the evening
Keeping your windows closed and staying inside may be a good idea during the day, but as the weather cools in the evening, you may want to open them to let the cool air in – just make sure you lock up overnight!
Cooking dinner in the backyard or at the park may also be a cooler option than sitting in a hot kitchen, so take advantage of the breeze when you can.
7. Chill out rather than chill in
Sip ice-cold beverages, use a moist cloth to your neck and other pressure spots on your body, or take a cold shower to cool down without turning on the air conditioner.
8. Break into a fan
Is there no air conditioning? Don’t be concerned! To turn a fan into a cold mist machine, all you need is a strategically placed bowl of ice. Place a shallow basin or pan of ice in front of a fan for an inexpensive icy-cool wind.
9. Opt for cotton.
Cotton materials are extremely breathable and aid in body cooling. Wear light, loose clothing made of breathable fibers such as cotton, and use cotton sheets on your bed.
10. Replace your lightbulbs
Incandescent lightbulbs may be to blame if you’re having difficulties cooling your home and can’t figure out why. Although these lightbulbs were phased out in Australia years ago, they are still used in many houses. Because they generate a lot of heat, switching to energy-efficient bulbs will help cool your home while also saving you money on energy bills – it’s a win-win situation!
You may also like
- The 5 best backpacks for students
- How to Shop for a Mechanical Keyboard
- Should you buy Apple AirPods Pro? Our tech experts like them, but there are other options
- The Best Robot Vacuums to Choose
- Why We Love the Logitech K380 Keyboard
- The Best Gaming Bags & Backpacks: Which is Right for You?
KeWiki is an affiliate-based website that tests and reviews the best tech, appliances, gear, and more. You can trust our veteran reviewers and experts to find the best stuff just for you.
KeWiki strives to be probably the most trusted product suggestion and service on the web. We obsessively test and report on thousands of things annually to suggest one of the best of all the things. We aim to save lots of you time and get rid of the stress of buying, whether or not you’re on the lookout for on a regular basis gear or items for family members. We work with complete editorial independence. Meaning nothing seems on the location as a suggestion until our writers and editors have deemed it one of the best by our rigorous reporting and testing.
