Summer is here and it's already a heat wave...
The higher the temperature, the more tempted we are to turn on the air conditioning.
But did you know you could stay cool without paying an exorbitant electricity bill?
Here are 12 tips for cooling your home without using the air conditioning:
Did you know that 30% of the unwanted heat in your home comes from windows exposed to the sun?
It's normal:with so much heat and uncovered windows, it's as if your house were a greenhouse!
Therefore, if you have shutters, blinds or curtains:close them during hot weather.
This simple gesture can reduce your electricity bill by 7% and lower the temperature by 6°C.
Are you one of those people who likes to close all the doors of the house?
So know that when you close a door, you prevent fresh air from spreading through the house.
Also, try to take advantage of the coolness of the night by opening the doors to create cooling drafts in your home.
Here's how to create a sea breeze feeling with your fan:
Start by filling a bowl with ice cubes.
Then, position the bowl in front of your fan (it works even better with a large fan). Place an object under the bowl to make the bowl tilt.
Here is ! Now the air from the fan will "bounce" off the ice cubes and create a cool, misty effect.
Trust us:it's pure magic.
You can also replace the ice cubes with a simple ice pack.
Each season has its appropriate bedding.
Flannel sheets and fleece blankets are more suitable for winter.
In summer, prefer cotton instead. It is a material that breathes and does not retain too much heat.
You can also try buckwheat pillows (a variety of wheat).
These pillows are stuffed with buckwheat hulls, which have natural empty spaces.
It is thanks to this natural structure that buckwheat pillows do not retain heat — unlike traditional pillows.
Did you know that the direction of rotation of ceiling fans is adjustable?
In the summer, set your fan to spin counter-clockwise.
When set to spin this way, your fan circulates air with a more cooling effect for you and your guests.
In summer, we especially think about changing the temperature of the house — but we often forget to act on body temperature.
Don't forget that our ancestors had several tricks to survive the heat without air conditioning.
For example, a very simple method to cool the inside of your body is to simply drink iced drinks.
You can also use fabrics soaked in cold water. Simply apply them to areas of your body that have a high pulse (especially your neck and wrists).
Another tip is to choose the colors of your clothes carefully (prefer light colors in summer).
At night, hugging with your partner generates a lot of heat. That's why it's a good idea to give them up until the fall.
Nowadays, the bathrooms of most homes are equipped with VMC (controlled mechanical ventilation).
Just like most kitchens are equipped with extractor hoods.
However, these devices are extremely useful for extracting hot air after preparing a meal or humid air after a shower.
To protect yourself from the heat, you can try a cooling pillow.
These pillows contain a patented foam. This foam uses the thermodynamic properties of water to cool your head while you sleep.
To refresh the feet, you must freeze a bottle of water beforehand.
Then, at bedtime, place this bottle at the foot of your bed.
For a refreshing effect, did you know that you can also slightly dampen the sheets of your bed (with water in a spray bottle for example)?
It's a trick that may seem strange, but the effect is guaranteed!
In some areas, summer nights are cool — take advantage of this drop in temperature.
Just open the windows of your home to create a pleasant and refreshing draft.
Additionally, you can dramatically increase this effect by strategically placing your fans.
But be careful:don't forget to close your windows and shutters as soon as you wake up!
This gesture will preserve the coolness of the night in your home before the arrival of the hot weather of the day.
Looking for motivation to replace your traditional (incandescent) bulbs?
Here's one:90% of the energy of incandescent bulbs is lost in the heat they emit!
Therefore, it is better to replace your traditional bulbs with CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent lamp).
This will not only reduce your electricity bill, but it will also cool your home.
This trick may seem obvious, but it doesn't hurt to point it out.
If you use your hob or your oven during the summer, the temperature of your home will increase considerably.
Indeed, when the temperature inside is already high, the last thing to do is to heat your oven to 250°C!
Instead, enjoy your garden/balcony and have barbecues.
To cool your home without using the air conditioning, you can also make some changes.
In addition, these modifications do not necessarily involve significant costs.
For example, you can coat your windows with plastic overglazing film. This insulation is useful in both summer and winter.
To find out more about plastic overglazing film, click here to discover our article.
For windows with direct sunlight, you can also add an awning or plant a tree.
This is a particularly effective trick to reduce the heat absorbed by your home.
Here you are, you have discovered 12 tips for cooling your home, without using air conditioning :-)
