How Do I Keep My Home Cool in Summer without Using an Air Conditioner?

 

Summer days are extremely hot all over India. So, installing an air conditioner is a common tendency among many people who can afford this electrical device. However, my mother often suffers from bronchial asthma, for which AC is unhealthy. The extra coolness and dryness of air caused by an air conditioning machine can trigger her asthmatic problem. So, I have researched online and also asked my friends to find some effective ways of keeping the home cool without an AC.

 

Installed good quality ceiling fan – 

Plenty of ceiling fans of different models offered by various companies are available in the market. I checked customers’ feedback about these companies and visited several shops selling electrical appliances in my locality. Finally, I bought ceiling fans for my home that rotate at a very high speed and cool rooms to a large extent. The air is fast circulated in the room, due to which heat is dissipated even during hot summer afternoons.

 

Reduce the entry of heat during daytime – 

I make sure to close all windows by 10 am during summer. Moreover, I draw blinds or thick curtains over the windows, to minimize the entry of heat produced by sunlight. I bought white and light-colored curtains that can reflect out maximum heat. I have also installed insulated glass on my window panes, to further lower the entry of heat. It is believed that rooms can be at least 40% cooler by using this technique.

 

Use exhaust fans wherever required –

I always switch on exhaust fans in my kitchen and bathrooms whenever those spaces are used. The exhaust fan in the kitchen is very important to drive out the heat produced while cooking, lowering the temperature of the room. However, I usually avoid cooking during the peak hours of summer heat, as that can increase the temperature of my entire home even after using an exhaust fan.

 

Cool rooms by natural ventilation – 

As I close windows before noon, I never forget to open them as soon as the sun sets in the evening. There are multiple windows in each room of my home. So, cross ventilation decreases the room temperature very quickly. A cool breeze sweeps across the rooms at night, making us feel comfortably cool even without an air conditioner.

 

Use of water and ice for cooling – 

I keep some ice in a bowl just below the ceiling fan or in front of a table fan. Ice melts and evaporates fast, absorbing some heat from the air of the room for this process. So, the room becomes a lot cooler by using this age-old technique, which is used in an air cooler. However, this process is useful only when the humidity of air is quite low and thus, not effective during monsoon.

 

Make the bed cooler – 

I always buy cotton or linen bedsheets for our beds at home. These fabrics are most suitable for summer, as air can easily pass through them. I have bought special gel pillows for my mother and myself. These pillows have a cooling effect and also provide support for the neck while we are sleeping, preventing neck pain. When it is too hot, I put my bedsheet and pillowcase in the refrigerator for a few minutes, just to cool them. However, this method is not healthy for my mother, as she may fall ill due to too much coolness of the bed.

 

Switch off all heat-radiating devices –

I do not use any device, like an electric iron, that emits heat in our bedroom during summer. I switch off my computer as early as possible before sleeping, as the CPU of the desktop also releases some heat while functioning. This practice helps in keeping my bedroom cooler during summer nights.

 

Use LED bulbs at night – 

LED bulbs do not emit heat, unlike usual light bulbs of 40, 60, or 100 Watts. So, I light a zero-power LED bulb while sleeping, which helps in keeping my bedroom cool during summer nights. Also, green-colored bulbs emit more light than red or blue ones, which helps my mother to see everything clearly if she needs to get up from bed at night.

 

Lying on the floor – 

If the heat is too much, I sometimes lie down on the floor to cool myself. Also, I sit on the floor while reading books or doing some work, as I feel the air to be cooler there compared to sitting on a chair.

 

Healthy habits – 

We drink plenty of water to keep our body cool and hydrated. Though my mother cannot drink cold water or soft drinks taken out from the fridge, she drinks Lassi or fruit juices at room temperature. However, we do not drink carbonated soft drinks, as that can trigger gastric problems for us. We always wear light-colored cotton garments during summer. Loosely-fitted outfits are the best for wearing at home, which are comfortable and make us feel cooler.

 

Use of indoor plants –

I have bought some indoor plants, like a Snake plant, Lucky Bamboo plant, and Spider plant, and placed them in my living room and bedroom. These plants purify the air, supply more oxygen, and also make the air cooler.

 

Conclusion

All these above-mentioned methods help us live a healthy and comfortable life, beating the summer heat. My decision of not installing AC also saves me a lot of money in my monthly electric bills. Moreover, air conditioners are harmful for our surrounding atmosphere.