How to Keep Your Home Cool with the Minimal Use of AC

Nearly 90% of houses in the USA have AC.

After all, AC has become the basic necessity to battle scorching heat. But it can’t be denied that AC makes up the most of the electricity bill.
The average monthly bill for central AC unit costs $110.88 while window unit costs around $45.60 per month (running for 8 hours a day). A ductless mini-spilt would cost nearly $28.50 per month.

Keeping AC on for most of the times not only add to your bill, but also causes several health problems like chronic headaches, fatigue, dry skin, and infectious respiratory diseases.

However, one can’t simply afford to live without AC when the USA is under the scorching heat wave.

Don’t worry! Here are some simple yet effective ways to keep your home cool. This way, you can minimize the usage of AC.

Keep Windows Open at Night:

Now, this is the point you may find extremely opposite to the starting one. Generally, the temperature comes down during the night in summers. And you can strike the opportunity by opening your windows to let the cool breeze in. But shut the windows in morning when the temperature starts sizzling.

Use Fan Instead of AC:

Whether it’s a ceiling fan or a table fan, all play a great role to keep your home cooler. They throw the cool air to the areas where it is needed, instead of making the entire house chill out like AC. Starting from ceiling fans, they take the air from the ground to send it to the ceiling, which is prevailed with the hot air. Box fans not only throw out the hot air but bring in the fresh and cool air, when they are placed near windows at night. On the other hand, whole house fan is even effective than the box fan. Make sure to adjust your ceiling fan every season: set them in an anticlockwise position for better results.

Close the Blinds:

The way to cool your home goes through the blinds. Remember nearly 30 percent of unwanted heat enters through the windows, curtains and shades. Keeping them closed means you have reduced your indoor temperature by nearly 15 to 20 percent. Broadly speaking, they don’t let your home to be turned into mini greenhouse only when they are closed.

Turn Off the Appliances:

Turning off your heat generating lights and appliances also help to keep your “den” cool. Switch off them when they are not in use. In this way, you not only keep your home cool but save a lot on the electricity bills. Use several heat and steam generating appliances like ovens, incandescent light, dryers, and washers in limit. You can use grills instead of turning on the 300 plus degree Celsius oven when the mercury is going up.

Plant Trees and Vines:

Plants and trees are the natural cooler shading your home’s exterior, thereby keeping your home cool. You can plant them towards the directions where the sunlight is severe, like the west facing side. Consider planting deciduous tree, which provides an excellent shade in summer and let the sun in temperature -drop in winters (as they shed their leaves). Make sure you’ve planted the trees native to your state as they can survive better in prevailing climate.
Consider the height, root spread and canopy width while planting a tree. Besides, climbing vines like ivy and creeper shield your home exterior against the sun rays at some extent. It’s ideal to plant them nearly 6 to 10 inches away from your dwelling to avoid their stem and root covering your walls.