Summer is here and in full force. And this means you’ll probably be sweating in your home office and fending off mosquitoes and flies feasting on you while you laze by the pool or beach. But why suffer when there’s a way to keep your home cool in the summer? Here are practical tips to help you take good care of your family or office and save money at the same time.
Whether you’re frugal like me and looking to make changes to your home to improve efficiency or looking for ideas on where to start, we have just the guide for you! With small changes, you can make a difference in your own household expenses! Invest now and see the savings add up! I recently made some changes with new windows and new shades! I already feel a difference with the temperature inside!
As a single mom, I wanted to make small investments in my home. I’ve been making energy efficient changes wherever possible around our home. This year, I had our windows replaced and new window shades installed! I am always looking for ways to save money. I am very happy with the changes so far!
With summer weather here, how do you keep your home cool?
1. Get a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can reduce energy bills and cool your home almost like an air conditioner but without the hefty price tag. To put this in stark numbers, a ceiling fan that retails for around $30 will typically cut a bill by about 40 percent.
2. Stay away from dark or heavy fabrics. Have you ever noticed how some of your clothes tend to stick to your body especially when you’re sweating? On the contrary, lighter weight and less dense materials are easier to wear because they keep air circulating by not trapping heat as much.
So invest in clothing made of natural fibers like cotton, or buy materials that are made thinner. Of course you can still wear dark colors as long as they’re lightweight.
3. Go for vertical blinds and shades instead of horizontal ones. Horizontal blinds and shades work by blocking the sun’s rays but only on one side of the window at a time which means it can get quite hot on the other side of the window which defeats the purpose.
Vertical blinds, or shades that are mounted to cover a bigger part of your window will keep both sides at an even temperature and save you energy. Bonus tip: If you work in an office where it’s hot most of the time, consider getting mini vertical blinds for your cubicle. They won’t take up too much space and you can also use them at home since they’re easy to carry around (you just need a piece of string or wire).
4. Use curtains instead of doors on bathrooms and laundry rooms. If you have a window in your bathroom, opt to keep the curtains open rather than the door. That way, there will be less need to switch on a light and you’ll keep your bathroom cooler, even when it’s not hot yet outside. The same goes for laundry rooms.
Windows are there for a reason – to let the cool air in.
5. Avoid using appliances that heat your home. If you have an electric oven, consider getting a gas one instead or switching to the microwave. Also switch from using the stove to boiling water on top of your refrigerator or cooking food with an infrared cooker under it, especially during the afternoon.
6. Open the windows and let in some fresh air. Your living room or foyer may be too hot and stuffy but that’s because you don’t have any windows in these rooms to let in air from the outside. You can put screens on your windows so you won’t catch insects if you’re worried about that.
7. Curb the use of your air conditioner. Because they’re expensive to maintain, try to keep them on for as little time as possible, or invest in a cheaper alternative like a fan that can sit on top of your table.
8. Take a shower instead of bathing. Showers cool you down much faster than baths do because the water hits your body directly, no matter how hot it is outside. If you bathe, stick to cold ones and try to get out as soon as possible.
9. Be smart with your food choices. Foods like carrots or fish are excellent for keeping cool because they have a high water content.
10. Wipe down your steps and porches with ice cold water to keep mosquitoes away. When you’re doing this, try to aim right where the hot air rises from – the chimney or fireplace area. Bonus tip: You can also use vinegar for this if you find the idea of cold water unpleasant.
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