This post has been written in collaboration with Mastertint
I can’t live without the air conditioner on during summer. Which is probably strange to admit when you write a post about 7 ways to keep your house cool WITHOUT relying on your air conditioner!
Keeping a house cool during Summer is achievable and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Many of these suggestions will pay for themselves over time. I’ve come up with 7 suggestions, and you may have your own which you are more than welcome to leave in the comments.
1. Build and/or buy in the right position. Before you even start to look at ways to cool your house, you can give yourself a head start by working out where the sun hits your house of a morning and afternoon. The orientation of your home will determine how hot your house will get during summer. Passive cooling and shading will ensure your house remains cool in even the hottest part of the day. It’s beneficial to have longer walls facing north as the sun exposure is minimized in summer but maximized during winter. For information regarding orientation check here.
2. Choose a roof in a lighter shade to reflect heat and light. The theory is a dark roof will store heat, but a lighter roof will repel it.
3. Insulation. It’s surprising how many households skimp on insulation, but it makes a world of difference to the temperature in your home. Not only does it keep your home cool during summer, it also keeps your house warm in winter.
4. Tint your windows. Window tinting is not just great for extra privacy in your home during the day, it also helps block out the sun’s heat. Mastertint specialize in window tinting for commercial and residential properties. The film provides a thermal barrier which can reduce the heat in a room by 80%.
5. Add shutters. For houses that have an orientation that isn’t ideal, add shutters to the windows that are in direct sunlight to block out the sun and heat.
6. Use a fan. Fans don’t use anywhere near the amount of electricity air conditioning does. A fan in a room that is insulated and has its windows tinted can keep a room livable during summer.
7. Be strategic and alert. To put simply, watch for the weather report to see what the temperature and weather will be like. Go outside to see if there is a breeze. After a hot week in Brisbane, last Friday we experienced a cool change with a slight breeze which had me open the windows and turn the air conditioner off.
Some days you will need to relent and use the air conditioner, but using these tips above will ensure your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.
How do you keep your house cool during summer? Do you rely on your air conditioner like me?
This post has been written in accordance with my disclosure policy.
