You can keep your home and your home cool in the summer months and be eco-friendly in the process. Here’s how.
It is synonymous with BBQs and beach cricket, and swimming in the pool for many summers.
However, there are times when the harsh summer sun doesn’t seem to be as enjoyable and turning up the AC at home is the only choice.
We’ve all been there — those moments when you wish to convert your home into a freezer and forget about your cost of energy for the coming quarter. It’s crucial to keep in mind that the excessive use of energy with cooling homes during summer is a major contributor to greenhouse emissions and global warming.
Find these 10 suggestions to keep your home, and you cool, help you save money and be kind to the Earth:
Close your blinds. Make sure your blinds are closed, particularly on windows that face west and north, to help cool your home. You can also purchase some block-out curtains to protect your home from the scorching summer sun.
Block the heat
The ability to stop heat from entering your home at all costs is a way to save money on cooling: shade walls and windows with exterior coverings like blinds, awnings, or even large potted plants. Plant deciduous trees to provide shade to your house during summer but permit the sun to pass through winter. If you are able, consider window tinting and add more ceiling insulation. This will help to keep warmth in during winter too.
Just 1oCmore
If you have to use your air conditioner, set it to between 24 and 27 to or the highest temperature, you’re at ease with. A little increase in your thermostat to 1 1C in hot weather could lower the cost of running your appliance by around 10.
If you’re planning to upgrade your air conditioner, select one that has a higher energy-star rating. Also, do your research to make sure you pick the appropriate air conditioner for your house.
Adjust the ceiling fan
You may feel that ceiling fans push hot air around your house instead of cooling it down. You’re not far off. If your ceiling fans aren’t turning clockwise could be doing exactly this!
Make your ceiling fans be rotated counter-clockwise in summer. This will bring air straight down to create cooling effects and then clockwise in winter to push cool air upwards. When it is warmer, it is best to set the speed of the fan high, while in cooler conditions, it’s best to use low. Ceiling fans can be used in conjunction with other types of cooling, so making sure that they are turning in the right direction can be a huge difference to the temperature in your house.
Close doors and close gaps
Shut off doors in rooms you’re not using to maintain cool air in the areas you require the most. Close the gaps around windows and doors and install draught-exclusion devices to ensure that cool air can’t escape.
It is important to note that evaporative air conditioners will perform better when you open the doors and windows to let more airflow throughout your home.
Enjoy the evening with friends.
The idea of closing your windows and staying inside is a good option during the daytime; however, when it becomes cooler at night, you might want to open your home up to let air circulate through your home naturally. Just ensure that you secure your home the doors and windows for the night!
Making dinner outside in your backyard or the park might be a more pleasant alternative to cooking in a hot kitchen. So, take advantage of the cool breeze whenever you are able.
Relax and not chill out
Drink cold beverages or apply a moist towel to your neck or other places on the pressure-sensitive body, and take an icy shower to cool down your body without turning the air conditioning on.
Hack a fan
Air-conditioning not working? No worries! A strategically placed bowl of ice is all you require to transform a fan into a cool mist machine. Set a small pan or bowl of ice before the fan to get a cool icy breeze that won’t cost the budget.
Select cotton
Cotton fabrics are excessively air-conditioned and can aid in cooling your body. Wear loose, lightweight clothing made of breathable fabric like cotton. You can also dress your bedding by using cotton bedding.
Change your lightbulbs
If you’re experiencing problems cooling your home, but you can’t determine the cause, it’s because of incandescent lightbulbs that could be the culprit. These bulbs were snuffed out in Australia many years ago; however, there are still a lot of homes that use these bulbs. They create a lot of heat; therefore, switching to energy-efficient bulbs can assist in cooling your home as well as save on energy bills – it’s an all-in-one win!