8 Ways To Keep Your House Cool This Summer

With the sun hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, the demand for air conditioners has gone up by 20 per cent. Coupled with this, inflating power bills burn a big hole in your pocket. Since energy can only be transformed from one form to another — and not created or destroyed — we end up polluting our environment to keep our indoors cool. But wait, there are several techniques that, when applied smartly, can help you keep your home cool without affecting your wallet or environment. 

MakaanIQ lists a few ways to keep your home cool this summer.

• Ventilate at night: Keep your windows and blinds closed during the day to avoid unwanted humidity and heat entering your house. By doing this, you can save up to seven per cent on your power bills and help reduce temperature by five degrees Celcius.

• Install insulation sheets or foams in your walls: Insulating your house will keep you protected from any extreme temperature. Besides, they will help your air conditioners and water coolers work more effectively.

• Say yes to table fans: Fill a big bowl with ice and place it in front of a table fan. The melting ice will leave a nip in the air. This would not only keep the temperature in check but will also increase moisture in dry summers.

• Postpone power-consuming activities to the night: Apart from consuming a lot of energy, washing machines, irons, and dishwashers produce a lot of heat. Operate these appliances in the evening, when the temperature is comparatively low.

• Use star-rated appliances, preferably three stars and higher: They are not only easy on environment but also easy to maintain. Clean your AC's air filters every month for effective cooling. Avoid using central air conditioning. But if it is already installed, make sure to change the compressor at the right time. It is also advisable to keep the compressor of your AC under shade to avoid over-heating.

• Keep yourself hydrated: Drink lots of fluids and juices to keep your body hydrated. Say no to diuretic teas and coffees. Eat temperature-regulating fruits like watermelons; after all, it's your body temperature that counts not the house's.

• Switch to LED: Traditional incandescent bulbs emit a lot of heat and waste more than 90 per cent energy. Switching to LED will help you save money and reduce internal heating.

• Plant greens around your house: Plants naturally regularise temperature around them and keep the surroundings cool. If you live in an independent house, planting vines and creepers will be a great idea.