As this is summer season in most places and one may find it quite expensive to use AC for a relaxed and comfortable life, I am suggesting a few techniques to make your life comfortable without the use of AC and without much expenditure on your pocket. There are multiple of traditional and thrifty ways to make your living space less hot and more airy and make your life comfortable.
Passive Cooling Techniques
Use Cross Ventilation
Open windows as per airflow and make use of fans in case of less airflow. Let the hot air leave your living space and fresh air to enter. Keep windows open at night to let the cool breeze enter. If your windows are not in the air direction, you may place fans closer to windows, which will pull air inside through windows.
Use Curtains and Window Shades
To avoid sunlight and heat, use curtains and window shades. For the windows which receive direct sunshine, one may use heavy curtains, and on the opposite side, maybe light curtains will suffice. In traditional ways, window shades were used on the outer side of windows to protect windows from the sun and keep the air circulating at the same time. These shades used to be made of cotton cloth and bamboo sticks.
Wear Cotton and Light Clothes
Wearing light clothes and letting your skin breathe will reduce the hot effect during summer season. Cotton clothing is more breathable and lets your skin receive air and makes the sweating dry easily. The overall effect of light clothing is relaxed and healthy skin.
DIY Cooler
Place ice packs or Ice cold water in front of fans to generate cool air which circulates in your living space. This hack will reduce the inside temperature to at least 8 degrees in comparison to the outdoor temperature.
Read More: Precautionary Measures During Winter Season – About Pakistan
Budget / Thrifty Cooling Techniques
Using reflective insulations
Can be applied on roofs so that heat is reflected and does not enter the building. Heat-insulating films can be used for glass doors and windows for the same. Reflective insulations are not that expensive and easily available these days. However, another cheap solution can be a mix of Lime water and white glue, to be applied on the rooftops and sun-exposed walls. Glass windows and door films are also available in online stores and at hardware stores. However, it is preferred to use some quality material for better heat insulation effects.
Utilize False Ceilings
False ceilings can be made with the use of wood and plaster of Paris materials, which reduce the temperature to certain degrees and also add beauty to the interior decor. False ceilings are available in quite a few countries these days and also not much expensive as compared to the insulation effects these provide.
Plant trees for Shade
To avoid or minimize sunlight exposure to your place during summer, plant trees in the vicinity for reducing the inside temperature. Trees have a direct relation with your outdoor temperature and also your cooling expenses in summer. Trees are a long-term and inexpensive solution to make your life comfortable.
Use Wood
Wood is an excellent insulator. Using wood in false ceilings, floors, and walls can reduce the effect of hot weather inside, and makes your living comfortable.
Conclusion
Most of the techniques discussed above are not very expensive and may be applicable to most households. Provided all these techniques used, have a joint effect on temperature reduction of more than 15 degrees in your houses in cities and rural areas as well. If one is utilizing AC for his comfort, these methods are also useful to provide better cooling effects and reduced electricity bills.
