How to Keep Your House Cool in Summer

10 Tips to Keep You and Your House Cool This Summer

You can stay cool and eco-friendly this summer with these handy tips. For many, summer is synonymous with BBQs, beach cricket, and pool dips. However, when the scorching sun makes these activities less enjoyable, cranking up the air-con at home seems like the only option.

We’ve all been there—those moments when transforming your house into a freezer seems tempting, despite the looming energy bill. It’s crucial to remember that high energy use for cooling contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Here are 10 tips to keep you and your house cool, save money, and help the environment:

1. Close Your Blinds

 

Keep blinds closed, especially on north and west-facing windows, to cool your home significantly. Block-out curtains are even more effective at shielding your home from the intense summer sun.

2. Block the Heat

Prevent heat from entering your house by using external coverings like blinds, awnings, or large potted plants. Plant deciduous trees that provide shade in summer but allow sunlight in winter. Window tinting and ceiling insulation are great investments for temperature control year-round.

3. Adjust Your Thermostat

If you need to use your air-conditioner, set the thermostat to between 24-27°C. Raising the temperature by just 1°C can reduce cooling costs by about 10%. Choose an air-conditioner with a high energy-star rating for better efficiency.

4. Optimize Ceiling Fans

 

Ensure your ceiling fans rotate counter-clockwise in summer to create a cooling effect. In winter, set them to rotate clockwise. Fans on high speed work best in summer, while low speed is optimal for winter. Ceiling fans can complement other cooling methods effectively.

5. Seal Doors and Gaps

Close doors to unused rooms to keep cool air where it’s needed most. Seal gaps around doors and windows, and use draught excluders to prevent cool air from escaping. Note that evaporative air-conditioners work better with increased airflow, so open some doors and windows if using this type of cooling.

6. Utilize Evening Coolness

During cooler evenings, open your windows to naturally cool your home, but ensure you lock up at night. Consider outdoor cooking to avoid heating up your kitchen.

7. Cool Your Body

Drink icy-cold beverages, apply a damp cloth to your neck and pressure points, or take a cold shower to cool down without relying on the air-conditioner.

8. Fan Hack

Transform a fan into a cold mist machine by placing a shallow bowl of ice in front of it for an affordable, cooling breeze.

9. Choose Cotton

Wear light, loose, cotton clothing and use cotton bed sheets. Cotton is breathable and helps keep your body cool.

10. Change Your Lightbulbs

Incandescent and halogen bulbs generate a lot of heat. Switch to energy-saving LED bulbs to reduce heat and lower energy costs.

For more tips on saving energy and cooling your home, check out our blog or download the free Energy Smart Saver book. Play your part in tackling global warming with these simple yet effective strategies.