There are several reasons why you would want to cool your house without air conditioning, as you will notice in this article. We also look at the different ways how you can do this.
Now that the temperature has been above 30 degrees for days, you often look for refreshment. It is usually a bit cooler in the house than outside. But after a few days, the heat starts to rise, which can sometimes cause sleepless nights.
My desk is also upstairs and there is now also a sauna. Now I usually work outside (morning and evening) but in the afternoon it gets too hot for me and I go inside. Fortunately it is a lot cooler there.
Why would you want to cool the house without air conditioning?
Now that the summers are getting warmer, more and more people are buying an air conditioner. But you may also be of the opinion that you prefer not to have air conditioning and that can be for various reasons.
Become ill
Put me in an air-conditioned environment and I’ll get sick. If it’s not too cold it will take a little longer, but my body still can’t bear it. I get a headache, sore throat and nausea. I once had to go home on a holiday job because I felt terribly nauseous because of the air conditioning that was on it.
I have therefore consciously chosen not to have air conditioning in my car. That seemed like an option as it meant I had to wait much longer.
Meer over deze brontekst
Energy consumption
An air conditioner is an energy guzzler. If you can combine it with, for example, solar panels, it will still work, but otherwise your air conditioning will cost you a lot of money every year. Besides money, it is of course also a major sustainability problem. If everyone starts installing air conditioning and as a result more energy has to be generated, we will run into shortages. It will also take longer before we switch completely to green energy.
Environmentally polluting
An air conditioner contains refrigerant. There are air conditioners with a natural refrigerant and others with hydrofluorocarbons. The latter is unfortunately the most common and can cause climate problems if the greenhouse gases are released when installing or removing the air conditioning. If you do purchase an air conditioner, it is best to choose one with propane, isobutane or CO2 as a coolant.
Cooling the house without air conditioning, how can you do that?
There are many ways to make sure you don’t melt in your own home. Some of the ways are more effective than others and some are more structural. If you have yet to start construction or are you going to renovate, it is best to take the structural matters into account. Otherwise you are guaranteed to regret it.
But even if your house has been standing for a while or you are renting, you can still ensure that it is a bit cooler. Be sure to check the tips below.
Insulate your house
Good insulation already works wonders. You notice this difference very clearly between new and old houses. With old houses the temperature will rise after a day of heat, with new houses this can take a very long time. If you don’t have (good) insulation yet, you can consider providing it.
Heat pump
This sounds very contradictory, but a heat pump can provide passive cooling. The heat from your house goes to the earth, making it easier to heat your house in the winter. It uses very little energy to use your heat pump as cooling.
Green roof
If you have a flat roof, you can consider turning it into a green roof. That is not only beautiful, it also has an insulating effect.
Trees
Trees are not only beautiful, they provide life in the garden, but they also provide shade. This way you can still find a shaded spot if you like to be outside.
They can not only provide you with cooling outside. They can also keep the house cooler by strategically placing the tree so that you have shade in the house. And if you choose trees that lose their leaves, they just let the sun through in the winter.
You may have already seen those pictures on social media where the street is very warm, everything is concrete. The picture next to it shows the street with trees and much lower temperatures. You can also provide the same effect at your home.
Closed during the day, open in the evening
Close all windows and doors during the day and try to darken it as much as possible. When it’s dark outside in the evening and a bit cooler, you open everything, windows and doors. Because opposite windows and doors are open, this creates coolness.
If you are no longer awake from the heat, then of course you do not want to be awake from the mosquitoes. So it’s best to have mosquito nets that keep insects out while airing.
Blinds
I had shutters installed because the light made it impossible for me to sleep. Roller shutters are also ideal for keeping the heat out for as long as possible. Now that it has been above 30 degrees for more than a week, the bedroom is also starting to heat up, but it has been cool for quite a while because I lowered the shutters during the day. In the evening when it starts to cool down a bit outside you can put the shutters back up and open the window completely to get some fresh air and oxygen into your room.
sun protection
Preferably choose sun protection that is on the outside. This works better than sun protection on the inside. In the latter case, the sun still comes through the window. I now see quite a few people in my neighborhood who have sheets stretched over their windows. That is of course also possible. That is a cheap, fast and easy solution.
If you want a solution that fits nicely with your home and works better than a stretched sheet, you can look for shutters, screens or other sun protection.
Canopy or shelter
Placing an awning or shelter will also reduce the amount of sunlight entering your home. I have placed a shelter above my terrace. As a result, shade remains on the terrace for a long time, but as a result the sun cannot enter the living room so quickly. When it is not so hot, I have provided a small terrace in the back of the garden, which is in the sun.
Fan
A fan will not make your house cooler. But due to the movement of air, you get a breeze that does cool you down. That can be delicious. Put aside everything that can fly 😉
A fan consumes about 15 times less energy than an air conditioner, which also saves you a lot of money in your wallet.
Washcloth
No, you will not lower the temperature in the house by using a washcloth. That would be too good to be true. But I often cool myself with a cold washcloth.
The veins of my hands swell up a lot in hot weather and it helps by regularly putting a cold washcloth on them. But it can also help you sleep. You regularly rub the washcloth over your head, neck and wrists. You can also use a cold compress for this.
Sleep outside
If it has really become too hot in your bedroom, you can consider sleeping outside. It’s really something I can recommend to you, because it has a lot more benefits than just cooling down a bit.
Less cooking
All kinds of equipment (lamps, computers,…) provide extra heat. If you are going to cook and certainly bake in the oven, it will be a bit hotter. A fresh salad is just as delicious in that warm weather. You could also cook something on your grill or in your pizza oven if you have one. Then you can still eat something warm, but you keep that heat out.
If you have benefited from these tips, be sure to let me know. I am also very curious about which way you use to keep or make your house cool.
