Summer is one of the most fun-filled times of the year. However, it has the downside of making your home feel like a furnace!
You can get outside in the breeze sometimes, but some activities require you to be indoors. Fortunately, there are ways to beat the heat while maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle. Here are a few tips to cool down while lessening your home’s environmental impact.
Air conditioning is one of the most popular ways to make the indoors livable during the hot months of summer. Window units and central air both consume a lot of energy, though, and can make your electric bill skyrocket. Lessen the environmental and financial elements of air conditioning by looking at energy star ratings on your appliance. These ratings let you know how efficient your air conditioner is.
There are also a few ways to beat the heat for those who don’t wish to run the air all summer. Oscillating fans use less energy and can make your home feel up to 8 degrees cooler. A great trick to beat the heat involves two simple bowls of ice and an oscillating fan. Place one bowl of ice behind the fan, and one in front. The fan moves the evaporating cool water around the room. When the ice melts, use it to water plants instead of pouring it down the drain.
Misting yourself with a spray bottle kept in the fridge is another on a list of ways to beat the heat and feel cooler without the need for a full on cold shower. If you find yourself at home on a particularly hot afternoon, try just going outside and sit in the shade. Even if the temperatures are the same inside and out, a little breeze feels better than stagnant indoor air. With these ways to beat the heat, you can reduce your energy use and stay cool at the same time.
