Use Natural Cycles and Breezeways to Keep your House Cool
I’ve talked about ways of adding shade to the outside of your home, to keep your house cool inside.
If you are lucky enough to design your own home, it makes sense to design with shade in mind. If not, no problem, because many of the options discussed in the blog, can be added on after the house is built.
Today I look at a completely free method of keeping your home cool.
Method 1 – Open and Close
The greenest – and cheapest – way to keep your house cool in summer is to simply close up your home during the heat of the day, and open it at night. This works best if you have shade outside your home too, but it will still help even if you don’t.
- As soon as it starts to get hot outside, close all your windows and doors. If you don’t have shade outside sunny windows, close thick curtains or drapes inside the windows. If you are going to be out of the house all day, close up before you leave.
- As soon as the sun passes, open the curtains and the windows and doors to allow cool air to come in and ventilate your home. Use certain windows to create breezes (more on breezes below), and if necessary use a fan to increase air movement.
(You may need screens on your windows and doors to prevent bugs.) Arrange furniture and drapes so they don’t restrict airflow. If you have operable skylights or high windows, open them to let out super-heated air and create convection currents.
I live in a hot climate and this method has been used all over the island for generations – it works!
Method 2 – Create a refreshing breeze
Once it is time to open your windows again, try to open windows and doors on both sides of your home (e.g. end-to-end or side-to-side) – this will allow the air to move through your house, creating a cool breeze throughout the house. It helps if you know what direction the wind near your home usually blows.
Sometimes, however, there will only be a weak breeze, or none at all. In these circumstances, use an electric fan as well, to get the air circulating.
Method 3 – Adds Fans if Necessary
Moving air evaporates moisture from your skin and keeps you feeling cooler. That’s why you feel cooler with a fan.
Fans can save you money since they operate at a fraction of the cost of air-conditioning units – and they even can work in tandem with your A/C if soaring temperatures have you sweating it out.
Once you’ve created breezeways in your house (above), you can make it even better if you want, with fans.
Even small, inexpensive table-top fans can really whip the air around.
- Place one facing IN by the window where the air is coming in,
- Place one at an opposite window positioned to blow warm air OUT
That way, you’ll create a nice “wind tunnel” effect, pulling air through the house.
Make good use of all types of fans – ceiling fans, box fans, attic fans.
- Adjust your ceiling fans’ blades so that the leading edge is higher, which will circulate cool air.
- Attic fans can also pull in cooler air from outside.
Experiment!
In the beginning, you will want to experiment to find the right combination for your own particular situation, which is influenced by the design and construction of your particular home and its micro-climate.
Of course, air conditioning is more convenient and more controllable, but these methods have been used for centuries around the world.
They do work, and they will save you money and reduce your demand for energy.
Please Share this useful article (buttons below) and spread the green word – thank you!
This article was updated in June 2023 with new information
Related Articles:
- Keep your home cool with eco friendly air conditioning
- Keep your home cool without technology
- Keep your home cool with natural shade
- How to keep yourself cool
It’s stressful, dealing with heat. Reduce your stress – immediately – with these great tips!
Clare, not only is using the breze to cool your home ecofriendly it is also a great way to introduce fresh air into a home, that is something that does not happen enough in most households.
Scott Sylvan Bell
Now go implement!
Great point Scott, thanks! (And you get to hear the birds singling too). 🙂
One of the main things we do is have an electric fan in almost every room. Its a great way to keep the house cool without setting the thermostat too low. We also use ceiling fans.
Thanks for the tips!
I can’t work out why some of these simple methods have fallen out of use . With the higher cost of power in the future , these ideas will really take hold . Good stuff Clare .
Airflow is vital to comfort and frequently overlooked. In ancient Egypt they used to soak linens in water and hange them in windows to keep cool. These suggestions are great to save money using little more than a cool breeze.
An ecofriendly tiip that I use daily.
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I have never been a fan of air conditioning. Since my windows get morning sun I keep things closed until 2 pm when the sun shifts then open everything up. I haven’t needed to pull out my fan yet this year.
Perfect Lois! It takes so little effort to work with the sun instead of against it – I’m always amazed when so many people just reach for air conditioning without thinking. Technology is great and has improved our lives immeasurably, but adding a/c instead of designing houses to naturally stay cool is not a good example. Thanks!
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