Staying Cool Without AC: 7 Home Design Ideas to Keep Your House Cool

Keeping cool in the summer is a tough task and can sometimes be very pricey if you run your air conditioning a lot. We all want to stay cool but have you ever thought about ways to keep your house cool without using air conditioning?

All it takes is a few simple changes and your house will be nice and cool in no time — and it will stay that all summer long. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t have air conditioning at all, then you really will want to follow tips on staying cool in the summertime. Staying cool without AC is actually much easier than you may think with a humidifier installation.

Keep reading to find out our seven home designs that will keep your house cool even on the hottest of days.

1. Use a Dehumidifier 

When you are hot you begin to sweat and then your sweat evaporates which will then make your body cool off. If you live in a place with a lot of humidity, then your sweat may not evaporate but rather stick around and keep you hot and sticky. There are many ways you can try to avoid this from happening especially inside your home.

One great way to make your house feel cool is by using a dehumidifier which removes moisture from the air. By removing the excess moisture from the air you will begin to feel cooler even when it’s hot outside. Dehumidifiers can be purchased pretty much anywhere and they can fit into anyone’s price range.

Other ways to make sure you’re staying cool especially if you have a dehumidifier is to wear loose-fitting clothing and sleep with sheets that are breathable.

2. T1-11 Siding

If you are looking to put new siding on your house that will look great and keep you cool, then t1 11 siding may be the perfect option for you. When installing this siding on your house you will want to make sure that all of the pieces fit perfectly together before nailing them down.

T1-11 Siding is great for keeping moisture from seeping in and which we’ve discussed previously, moisture can make you even hotter. You do need to keep up and maintain this siding so it lasts a great lifetime on your home.

3. Remember to Unplug

All of the electricity running to your electronics are creating heat when you have them plugged in. A great lifestyle change would be to remember to unplug your electronics and appliances while you aren’t using them. This can help save on the electric bill in more ways than one.

Turning something off is not enough. You may think that just because something is turned off that it isn’t using electricity but it is. Especially if an appliance has a red glowing light on it saying that it is turned off, then it is still using your electricity and creating additional unwanted heat.

4. Use Fans and Find Good Airflow

When it comes to staying cool without air conditioning it is all about the fans and where you place them. You may find a room in your home that is particularly cool so you can place a fan in front of that open door to blow that cool air around.

Another thing to remember is to keep doors closed that aren’t in use. Once you’ve cooled down a room in your house try not to open too many doors and let the hot air inside. Fans will be your best friend in the summertime so you will need to know exactly how to place them to optimize the breeze.

5. Use Window Hacks

A great way to get a breeze to go through your house is to use an easy window hack. At the downwind side of your house open the top section of your windows and at the upwind side of your house open the bottom section of your windows. This will create a cooling pressure current that will flow through your house from window to window.

Another window hack would be to use a box fan but instead of facing it so the hot air from outside comes in, do the opposite. Face the box fan so that the hot air from the inside of your home gets sucked out. You can also hang a wet sheet in front of a window so the air will blow through it and become cooler.

6. Stop Using Incandescent Bulbs

There are many things in your home that are generating heat which you may not have realized. Incandescent bulbs actually create more heat than they do light so you should ditch them as soon as possible.

Switch those bulbs out for CFLs or compact fluorescent lamps. Switching will help to cool down your house and also bring down your electric bill. Different bulbs will be better for you in the long run.

7. You Need Insulation Year Round

Even though there are many beautiful photo-worthy homes with exposed rafters, this is not good for keeping heat or cold in your home depending on the weather. Insulation in your home is a must and not something you should skimp out on. Adding insulation to your walls and attic will help you save money and keep your home the temperature you want.

Insulation works because heat will go from a hotter place to a colder place meaning that the heat from outside will seep into your home without insulation. Without proper insulation, you may feel like you want to use your air conditioner more than ever so having good insulation will eliminate that feeling.

Staying Cool Without AC

You may think that it is nearly impossible to keep your house cold in the summertime without air conditioning but with a few lifestyle changes and home updates staying cool without AC is a breeze.

Using these tips can help you stay cool and hopefully save a few bucks on your next electricity bill.

Now that you’ve learned how to improve your home to stay cool without air conditioning, you should keep following our blog for other great tips and tricks on how to improve your home.