Ahorrar energía en casa durante los meses de más calor parece imposible pero cambiando ciertos hábitos y poniendo en práctica unos trucos básicos podrás enfriar la casa sin recurrir al aire acondicionado

The heat just won’t let up. Summer brings temperatures that, at times, can turn your home into a veritable hell. The most common solution is to turn on the air conditioner to beat the heat. However, when the goal is to save energy at home, this solution can be counterproductive.

The question of how to cool your home without causing your energy bill to skyrocket comes up time and again. However, contrary to what it might seem, the answer is relatively simple. Changing certain habits is the first step. But to successfully solve the problem, you’ll need to do a little more. If you’re still not sure how to cool your home, this quick guide will not only help you do it easily but also save energy at home. Take note!

1. Awnings, blinds, and curtains: Great Allies

Since cooling down your home when it’s very hot can be quite a challenge, it’s best to do everything possible to prevent the interior from heating up. Awnings, blinds, and curtains are great allies in this effort. The reason is simple: using them blocks heat from entering from outside, especially during peak hours, which are generally between 3 and 5 p.m. (although the orientation of the home will affect this).

Using them correctly every day will prevent you from having to resort to other cooling systems and, as a result, is a good first step toward saving energy at home. However, there are certain details you should keep in mind. For example, when it comes to awnings, there’s a wide range of fabrics that offer varying degrees of protection from the sun. However, regardless of which one you choose, opting for a light-colored awning will prevent it from trapping heat.

2. Air out the room first thing in the morning

Ventilating your home is another tried-and-true method for cooling it down. Experts recommend doing this first thing in the morning, since that’s one of the times of day when the temperature is lowest. If you air out the rooms early, you’ll find it easier to keep them cool for the rest of the day. However, aside from the bedrooms, in spaces like the kitchen or living room, you can opt for afternoon ventilation.

In fact, taking advantage of the natural airflow in your home will help keep it cool. A tip from folk wisdom on this subject involves combining this recommendation with the previous one. Whenever your home has cross-ventilation, you can dampen the curtains and open the windows to amplify the effect and fill the rooms with cool air.

3. Save energy at home (and lower the temperature) with household appliances

It may seem like a contradiction, but the truth is that it’s possible to save energy at home while lowering the temperature by several degrees. As you can imagine, choosing energy-efficient appliances is the first step. But to do more than just lower your electricity bill, you need to know when and how to use them.

It’s essential to know the times when electricity rates are highest. Once you know that, if you want to figure out how to keep your home cool by using appliances properly, all you need to do is change a few common habits. These appliances give off heat, so the general recommendation is to use them at night or, at the very least, avoid the middle of the day.

4. Cooking Efficiently

You’ve probably heard of it. You might even be doing it without realizing it. But if you still don’t know what batch cooking is, take note—it’s another way to keep your house cool when it’s really hot. Essentially, it’s about optimizing your time in the kitchen—or, in other words, making the most of your time at the stove to prepare several recipes at once. Sautéing vegetables while a purée finishes cooking, boiling green beans while a roast chicken is in the oven, prepping the ingredients for tomorrow’s salad…

Adopting this practice helps you save energy at home, as well as time and effort when cooking. If you’re not at the stove every day, you’ll avoid one of the main sources of heat in your home. Of course, whenever you do cook, be sure to turn on the range hood. It won’t just remove smoke and odors—it’ll also help refresh the air in your kitchen by expelling the heat that builds up while you’re cooking and reducing humidity.

5. How to Cool Your Home Using Fans

Unless you’re thinking about how to cool your home without a fan, these devices are an interesting alternative to air conditioning. While they don’t actually cool the air—they just circulate it—there are certain tricks that can greatly increase their effectiveness. Thanks to these tricks, you’ll not only save energy at home but also enjoy a cooler environment.

If you use a ceiling fan, for example, make sure the blades rotate counterclockwise. The stirred-up air will sink, while the warm air will rise, creating a greater sense of coolness. You can also try other tricks, such as placing a bowl of ice and salt in front of a standing or floor fan to cool the air.

6. Other Basic Tips for Cooling Down Your Home

Textiles are also a great way to cool down your home when it gets very hot. Replacing synthetic fabrics and heavy textiles with natural fabrics like cotton or linen—preferably in light colors—will help cool down the interior of your home.

The same goes for lighting. If you need to replace light bulbs, opt for LED bulbs. In addition to saving energy at home, they’ll give off much less heat—though ideally, you should minimize the use of artificial light sources so as not to add heat to your home.

If, in addition to all these recommendations, you water your plants on your terrace, patio, or in your garden at night, you won’t have to rely on the air conditioner to enjoy a reasonably comfortable home—and you’ll save energy!

To wrap things up, here’s a video summary with tips on how to cool down your home and save energy