How to Keep Room Cool in summer without AC and Cooler in India
There is nothing more frustrating than tossing and turning in bed because your sweat leaves you practically stuck to the covers. It. Is. Awful. Not good for your ideal sleep temperature.
An air conditioner is an obvious solution for a cool, peaceful, and REM-filled sleep. AC, however, consumes a lot of energy and increases your electric bill. Therefore, what should a budget-conscious, environmentally responsible sleeper do?
Here are some DIY solutions to keep your room cool so you won’t have to sleep in the heat in the summer without AC and Coolers in India
You can save money on energy bills and rely less on air conditioning by following these 11 natural ways to cool yourself and your home.
1. Close the Curtains During the Day, and Use Dark Ones
If you’re trying to cool down your room, you might be wondering why you need to close the curtains. When your curtains are left open in the summer, the sun will have free access to your room. Therefore, you should close your curtains or blinds throughout the day to block the sun. By doing so, your room will remain cool without the use of an air conditioner.
During the hours when the sun is most active, you should use dark curtains to prevent your room from getting too hot from direct sunlight. Otherwise, your room could become an impromptu greenhouse.
2. Cross Ventilate
Allow cross-ventilation by strategically opening windows at opposite ends of your home. Cross-ventilation is a well-known phenomenon, but few are aware that time also plays a crucial role. During summer, the best time to open the windows is between 5.00 and 8.00 am in the mornings and between 7.00 and 10.00 pm in the evening when the air is still pleasant.
3. Open Windows and Interior Doors at Night
Apart from closing them during the day, you can open them at night as well. During the night, the sun has gone down, and the cool night breeze can be enjoyed, but not if your curtains are closed. Therefore, you should always open windows and interior doors in your home at night. A cross breeze can also be created by opening the windows, which will cool your room.
The hot air from cooking a meal can spread throughout your home, which is why you should close the doors connecting your kitchen and rest of your house during the day. To get rid of the hot air, you should also open the door or window leading to the outside. It is a good idea to open the windows and doors at night so that cooler air can circulate freely.
4. Go old-school
Can you recall when refrigerators were iceboxes that contained actual blocks of ice? I doubt it. However, this stay-cool trick dates back to the icebox era.
You can make your own air conditioner by placing a shallow pan or bowl full of ice in front of a fan. While the ice melts, the breeze will pick up cold water, creating a cooling mist.
Thus, the fan will blow the coolness of the water or ice around, making your room cooler. To prevent air from escaping, you should close your doors and windows while doing this.
5. Unclutter Your Room
A crowded room feels hot! To make the room feel more spacious, remove any unnecessary curios, furniture, books, newspapers, and magazines. Open the windows and remove all of your hot-looking synthetic drapes and thick woolly carpets. Instead, buy thin rugs made of jute and hemp that look and feel great.
Also, replace your centerpiece with one that creates a psychological feeling of cool calmness. Fill a vase, bowl, or other glass vessels halfway with cold water. Next, add some pretty flowers (or even petals), pebbles, seashells, or even fresh leaves for a whimsical piece of summer decor!
6. Sleep Low
Since warm air rises, the air at your feet will be less hot than at the ceiling. Put the mattress on the floor or try sleeping without a mattress if you don’t mind hard surfaces, and see if it helps.
In hotter weather, you can also sleep on the floor if your ground is made of tiles. This will keep you cool in warmer weather. If you can sleep on hard surfaces, tiles are usually cool to the touch and will make your sleep more comfortable.
7. Paint It White
Just as ice/snow reflects UV rays instead of absorbing heat like the oceans do, white roofs/terraces reflect heat and keep the house cooler. Because of this, a coat of white lime wash can help maintain the slab’s coolness during the summer. The problem is that it washes away in the rain, so it needs to be reapplied every summer.
While terrace gardens may be time-consuming, they are the best way to keep a roof cool (mud used to grow plants acts as an insulator).
8. Light It Right
When lights aren’t being used, turn them off – especially incandescent bulbs. Besides consuming more power and increasing your electricity bills, they also emit a lot of heat. If possible, replace them with cool light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescents (CFLs).
9. Sleep Like an Egyptian
In this method, a damp sheet is used as a cover to keep cool – like a DIY swamp cooler. If you decide to try it, set your fan on low, as too much cooling down of your muscles might make you feel uncomfortable.
Don’t add too much water to the wet sheet or it will become soaked, and you might catch a cold while trying to stay cool.
10. Foods to Keep You Cool
Creating a summer-specific food habit is an excellent way to say goodbye to body heat. Seasonal fruits and vegetables (such as watermelon, musk melon, grapes, and oranges) and herbs (such as mint) can help you stay cool and energised even when the temperature rises.
This is also the time of year when our bodies crave flavorful hydration. Before consuming the plethora of bottled beverages on the market, try nannari, jal jeera, shikanji, lassi, buttermilk, aam panna, bel sherbet, imli ka amlana, kokum sherbet, and coconut water.
11. Drink More Cool Water
Because our bodies are mostly water, staying hydrated is an easy way to stay healthy and comfortable. Heat will affect you more if you are dehydrated or drinking warm water.
Chilled (not iced) water can also help cool your body down from the inside, providing relief. To make it work better, drink plenty of water before going to bed to stay cool and hydrated.
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