Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Cool this Summer

Global climate change is very real and not a myth as thought of by some. The world is heating up and deviant weather patterns can be felt everywhere. Summers are getting hotter and air condition (AC) sales are booming! However, constant use of the AC does drive up your electricity bill and lead to greenhouse gas emissions too, which are harmful to the environment.

Aside from depending on the AC, there are numerous other ways to keep your home cool during the hot summers. Here’s a look at some tips on cooling without raising your bills or being unkind to mother earth:

Cross ventilation

Keep your doors and windows open, especially during the evenings when the cooler breeze is blowing. The free flow of air will drive out the hot air locked within your home and drive in cooler air to make the indoors more bearable. However, you will need to ensure that there is mosquito netting in place to prevent entry of unwanted mosquitoes!

Block out the sun

Even with windows closed, the window pane can get heated up and emit heat into the room. To prevent this from happening, keep your curtains closed, especially on east and west-facing windows. You could even use thick and dark block-out curtains during the daytime to shield your home from the scorching sun.

Create the shade effect

Villa dwellers can easily install awnings over their windows and prevent the sun hitting them directly. This will prevent the window panes from warming up and radiating warmth indoors. Alternatively, you can grow tall trees close to the windows or plant tall potted plants or creepers to create diffused light over the windows.

Go with natural fabrics

Natural cotton fabrics breathe and are best used during the hot summer days. Cotton can not only be used for clothing, but also as bedsheets, upholstery, cushion covers, etc., during hotter days. Unlike synthetic materials, cotton doesn’t trap heat and is ideal for keeping the body cool.

De-clutter your space

A cluttered home feels more claustrophobic during the hot summer days. For that cooler effect where the air can move unhindered, get rid of unnecessary furnishing or other accessories that could trap heat. Carpets are another no-no during the summer as they trap heat. Consider using cotton or jute rugs if you can’t keep your floors bare during hotter weather.

Seal gaps

To ensure that the cooler rooms retain their coolness, do check for gaps around the doors or windows. Use draught excluders to seal up any gaps and prevent loss of cool air.

Pastel colors

Dark colors tend to absorb heat while lighter colors, especially white, tend to reflect off heat. Keep this fact in mind next time you are painting your walls. Go with light-colored or white walls that are smooth and bounce back heat and light. You could also consider using light shades or pastel shades of your favorite colors as they will not retain much heat.

Change your bulbs

Would you believe that your light bulbs also contribute towards warming of your indoor temperatures! For those having problems with keeping their home cool, consider changing your bulbs to LED or CFL bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. They don’t produce much heat and bring down your electricity consumption too, as they are energy-saving fixtures.

Add greenery

Plants are not only a balm to the eyes, but improve the aesthetics of your home too. More important is that plants act as natural air coolers as they cool down your home through the process of transpiration! So, splurge out on indoor plants and cool down your indoor temperatures too!

And for those of you planning on buying a new home, check out the villas, apartments and flats in Thrissur by Vishraam builders that come with thoughtfully-designed features to keep your indoor temperatures down. Aside from features like cross ventilation, these homes by Vishraam builders follow green building protocols that ensure minimal wastage of energy or disturbance of the environment.

Vishraam builders are the recipients of numerous awards and accolades and have been in the business of building elegant homes for over 21 years. And we have the smiles of 2000+ happy customers to prove it! Come visit a Vishraam project for yourself today and you will be bowled over!