Stay Cool Without Your Air Conditioner
I get a lot of emails from readers who don’t have conventional air conditioners installed in their homes and I get requests to do a post on summer cooling alternatives. Even if you don’t have an AC and don’t want to purchase/install one, there are definitely some good low cost options to keep you cool this summer. Here’s a short list I’ve come up with:
Prevent Heat Gain
One of the most effective ways to make your home feel cooler costs you nothing and involves keeping heat from building up in the first place. The primary source of heat gain can often be attributed to sunlight that’s absorbed by your home through the walls, windows, and roof. Other sources can come from heat-generating appliances (ovens, stoves, microwaves) and air leakages. You can prevent heat gain by reflecting sunlight away from your house, shading and blocking the heat, removing built-up heat, and reducing heat-generating sources in your home.
Ceiling Fans & Evaporative Coolers
Ceiling fans and evaporative coolers are energy efficient cooling solutions because they cost less to install and run as standard air conditioners. Ceiling fans have the ability to lower the air temperature by approximately four degrees, and evaporative coolers use one fourth the energy of conventional air conditioners.
Whole House Fans
If you’re looking for a lower-cost, natural alternative to an air conditioner, whole house ventilation may be the solution. Installing a whole house fan costs only a fraction of traditional air conditioners and operating costs may be as little as 10 percent of the cost of operating an air conditioner. When the fan is turned on, cooler air from the outside is drawn into the house trough open windows and doors, and warmer air is pushed out of the house through ventilation spaces in the roof or gable end walls. This air movement cools your house by replacing hot air with cooler air; by flushing out hot air; and by creating a gentle breeze that cools occupants.