8 Cool Tricks to Beat the Summer Heat without Using Air Conditioning

Now that the high temps have really kicked in, it’s hard to remember that this is the season everyone longs for during the darker, colder months of the year. Ha! If your home doesn’t have AC (or you are choosing to leave it off as much as possible) you can feel stuck, especially when it comes to getting a restful night’s sleep. According to an expert in condo interior design Singapore, there are few simple changes, however, can keep your home cooler and more comfortable throughout the summer months, allowing you to skip or skimp on air conditioning—and save some cash in the process.

Read on for a handful of helpful ways to beat the heat this summer.

Have a DIY A/C

A simple do-it-yourself air conditioner can help keep you cool: simply place a bag of ice in a metal bowl, then position a fan to blow over the ice. For an even more elaborate set up, consider a homemade A/C unit like this one. Now, that’s a great way to stay cool and save lots of money, right?

Or, if you want, buy a high-efficiency air conditioner: for room air conditioners, the energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating should be above 10; for central air conditioners, look for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12.

Let Those Fans Work

Ceiling fans can be your best friend come summer, but make sure they are set to run in a counter-clockwise direction; this allows them to draw cooler air up from the floor. At night, try positioning a box fan in an open window to pull in the cooler air from the outdoors.

Cook Al Fresco

Cooking dinner over a hot oven heats up more than the chef—it warms up the home as well. Keep your house cooler by doing more of your summer cooking on an outdoor grill, or opting for cold salads and sandwiches. If you must use the stove, run the ventilator hood fan to draw the hot air out of the house.

Keep Them All Closed

When the sun’s rays pour in through windows and doors they can contribute to an overheated home. Keep curtains and blinds drawn during the daytime to block heat generating sunlight. Then when night falls, open the windows to allow cooler nighttime air to enter the house.

Related: 4 Things That Interior Designers Won’t Tell You

Use Nature’s Coolers

Planting trees in the yard goes a long way to keeping your home cool during the summer. Leafy deciduous trees provide shade during summer, but let in light during the winter once their leaves drop. If trees aren’t an option, consider installing awnings over the sunniest side of the house.

Eliminate Heat Sources

Chances are that you can do without some of the heat-producing equipment in your household. Unplug chargers when not in use, as these can draw additional heat into the home through electrical sockets. Replace incandescent light bulbs with cooler (and more efficient) CFL or LED lights. If you normally park the car in the garage, leave it outside in the driveway for an hour or two until the engine cools off.

Screen Time

If there’s anything worse than a hot house, it’s a hot and stuffy house. Consider installing a screen door over the front or rear exits. Then, open your door in the early morning and after dusk when the weather is at its coolest to air fresh air into your home. Besides, this is considered as one of the many ideas when it comes to condo interior design in Singapore.

Ventilation

You can help get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the incoming air is 77 F or lower. (This strategy works most effectively at night and on cooler days.) Window fans for ventilation are a good option if used properly. They should be located on the downwind side of the house facing out. A window should be open in each room. Interior doors must remain open to allow air flow.

If you need some great ideas like the aforementioned, we here at M3 Studio can definitely help you out. With the hot days we’re experiencing, it’s always cool (pun not intended) to have something to feel refresh. Give us a call and we’ll surely make it all worth it for you!