The seasons come and go, each with its own set of characteristics that can either be easy or difficult to get through. Summer is just around the corner and while it’s fun to go to the beach, the same cannot be said about going back to a home that feels like an oven. Turning on the air conditioning is the most convenient solution, but you won’t be excited to see the electric bill.
As the summer heat seems to lengthen and intensify each year, we preppers need to do something about it without having to resort to the expensive and artificial way of cooling our homes. Here are some tips to deal with the heat wave while saving money in the process.
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Dehumidify
If you live in a humid area, your sweat will stay wet. Wear loose cotton and other natural fabrics. Removing the humidity will help you feel cooler.
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Reduce and reflect sunlight
Sunlight alone can increase the temperature in your home. Keep that light from entering your interior and you can feel the difference.
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Turn off lights when not in use – especially incandescents
Light bulbs produce heat, especially the incandescent ones. If you can’t replace these antique type of bulbs, the least you can do is minimize their usage.
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Be smart about your doors
If a room is cooler than the outdoor temperature, close the door. This way the cold will not leave the room even in the warmest part of the day.
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Don’t cook inside
The kitchen can create a lot of heat when you are cooking, especially the oven. The best compromise is to cook during the coolest time of the day.
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Put smooth white fabric covers on your furniture to help it retain less heat
In addition, these covers will reflect the light. The furniture, and your interior, stay cool in the process.
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Open windows at both ends of a house to let air move freely through the whole structure
Cross-ventilation helps reduce the temperature in your home. You’ll be surprised how much cooler it becomes.
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Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise
Doing this will help move the warmth up and away from the room. In turn, you will feel cooler.
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Point box fans out the windows so they push hot air out
This is one thing that many homeowners do not realize. Sometimes it’s better to use fans for exhaust rather than creating artificial breeze.
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Unplug
In this age of electronics, heat is a normal by-product. Pull out those plugs if you are not using a gadget. Less heat produced means a cooler interior.
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Hack a fan instead of turning on the AC
It’s a classic but it’s proven to work. Put some ice in a bowl, place in front of a fan and you get instant AC.
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Hang wet laundry on a clothesline rather than turning on your dryer
A dryer is no different from an oven in the summer. They are heat multipliers, so try not to use them if you don’t need dry clothes right away.
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Always make sure you use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to draw out any excess steam
Apart from the steam, these exhaust fans draw out the heat from other rooms nearby. There will be a noticeable difference.
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Do your laundry, ironing and cooking during the cooler parts of day
This way you won’t be adding to the warmth of your home’s interior. Plus work will be much more comfortable.
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Damp curtain
This is an interesting technique from long ago. Quite similar to the ice in front of the fan technique. As long as there’s a breeze, that is.
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Let the night air in
In the summertime, nights tend to be much cooler. Make the most of this by opening the windows before sleeping.
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Plant trees strategically
This may be a long-term plan but the benefits are also long-term. After a few years, you will be proud with what you have done.
