Easy Ways to Cool Down Your House (And Yourself) Without AC

Summer is coming, and it’s getting hotter. Your house is probably already feeling the effects of this new season. You may be tempted to turn the dial on your AC, but what about all those utility bills? If you’re using your AC every day to beat the heat, you’ll start to feel the effects of those higher bills soon, too. 

Not to worry—you can say goodbye to night sweats, sticky humidity, and expensive energy costs. Keep reading to learn some seriously simple ways to keep your home cool this summer without ever touching the AC unit.

Fans & Windows

Are you using your ceiling fans and windows wrong when it’s hot? Learn how to utilize them in the best way to stay cool: 

• Use your fans the right way. For the summer months, rotate your fan blades counter-clockwise (as you look up at it) to push air straight down, and increase the speed to circulate cooler air quickly. You can also use ceiling fans, box fans, or even hand fans if it’s a seriously steamy day.
• Open your windows at night. When the temperature outside is cooler than the temperature inside, open your windows to let in the cool air. You can especially implement this practice before bed. This will help to ventilate your home and cool it down. Don’t forget to close the windows when you wake up to seal the cool air inside.
• Close your windows during the day. When the temperature outside is hotter than the temperature inside, close your windows to keep the heat out. You can also consider using blackout curtains or blinds to completely block the hot sunlight. According to The Department of Energy, medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%.[1]
• Create a cross breeze. If you have windows on opposite sides of your home, open them to create a cross breeze. This will help to circulate the air even more and cool down your home.
• DIY a makeshift AC. Place ice packs, frozen water bottles, or a large bowl of ice in front of fans to create a cool breeze. This easy trick blows the cold air coming off the ice, packs, or bottles into the room.

Fluids, Fluids, Fluids

You already know you should stay hydrated to keep cool and healthy, but what else can water do? Take a look: 

• Take a cool shower or bath. Taking a cool shower or bath can help to cool you down and make you feel more comfortable when the heat seems to be unbearable. If you want to treat yourself to a spa day while you’re at it, wrap yourself up in true luxury after your bubble bath or shower with silky soft, quick-drying, and ultra-absorbent Luxury Towels. 
• Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated is important, especially when it's hot outside. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to keep your body cool. Spice up bland water by adding some fruits to your H2O or some lemon slices. Brew refreshing tea and add some ice. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, try making homemade seasonal fruit drinks, like amla juice which is rich in vitamin C.

Large Appliances & Light Bulbs

Your household appliances aren’t doing you any favors when it comes to beating the heat. Check out what you can do to fix this: 

• Switch out your light bulbs. Did you know your light bulbs could be bringing unnecessary heat into your home? Incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat. They’re more so “heat bulbs” than light bulbs.[2,3] Switch to CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) or LED bulbs for energy efficiency and to emit less heat throughout the house.
• Hold off on the operation of bigger household appliances. Nothing heats your home like a 400-degree oven. Or other large appliances, like ranges, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers. Save the use of these “heat generators” for the later, evening hours, and open some windows to let the cooler nighttime air inside.

Humidity & Insulation

Keep the heat at bay by insulating your doors and buying devices that reduce humidity: 

• Consider a dehumidifier. Humid climate people—we’re looking at you. You know that the sticky, thick air humidity brings can make that uncomfy hot day even more uncomfy. Dry heat is one thing, but moist heat? Ick. Consider getting a dehumidifier to keep your home more comfortable. These devices take that icky moisture out of the air. We recommend finding a unit that automatically shuts down when the humidity drops below the targeted level (this will save you money on electricity bills).
• Invest in some insulation. Insulation can be a game changer for balmy summer days. It helps to lower energy bills by keeping the cool air in and the hot air out. A super easy way to start insulating your home is weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is a form of insulation that is affordable and keeps cool air from escaping through doors and windows. Check if you have any doors or windows with gaps (usually found at the bottom). Use weather strips to seal the gaps around these problem areas.

Fabrics, Textiles, & Décor

It might sound counterintuitive, but clothing and bedding can help you keep cool. How? It all boils down to the materials used. Beat the heat with tried and true fabric blends:

Bamboo Viscose To The Rescue

• Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, like Bamboo Loungewear. Traditional loungewear brands are made with stuffy fabrics like cotton, but our loungewear is made with a unique bamboo viscose blend. It’s lightweight for enhanced comfort, with a relaxed fit and impressive temperature-regulating properties.
• Invest in 100% Bamboo Bed Sheets. Our pure bamboo viscose fabric is thermo-regulating to keep you cool and relaxed all season long. These hypoallergenic resort-grade sheets have moisture-wicking properties, making them perfect for those who suffer from night sweats.
• Always sleep on the cool side of the pillow—The Luxury Pillow. Never sleep hot again with this luxe pillow! Our breathable fabric helps circulate airflow, wicking away excess body heat for a cooler sleep every time, even when the heat is “raining” down on you.

If you’re hosting this summer, you’ll want to ‘turn down the heat’ for your guests—after all, your home will be their cooling oasis escape. That’s where incorporating “cool” decor comes in.

If you need a little inspiration for your summer decor, click here to learn our 8 tips to make your house look (and feel) cool without touching the thermostat or spending a ton on utility bills.

We've gone ahead & enclosed a 10% off coupon below for you to use if you'd like to take the plunge and try out our sheets for yourself! To shop our collection & get 10% OFF Use the code 'BLOG10' at checkout.

What are your favorite products from Cosy House? Let us know in the comments below. The Cosy community loves hearing from you. 

Happy Summer Season from all of us here at Cosy! 

Resources:

1. Energy efficient window coverings. Energy.gov. (2023). https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-window-coverings 
2. Light bulb efficiency. Light Bulb Efficiency | Center for Nanoscale Science. (N/A). https://www.mrsec.psu.edu/content/light-bulb-efficiency 
3. LED lighting. Energy.gov. (2023). https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/led-lighting