Summer days and heat waves can be brutal if you don't have air conditioning, but there are plenty of ways to keep indoor cool no matter how hot it is outside. Understanding how to keep a room cool without AC in summer will also help you stay healthy and comfortable. Some simple ways to remain cool include covering windows with shutters, installing an oversized ceiling fan, and replacing other bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights.
You can also consider using energy-efficient cooling appliances, such as portable fans, evaporative coolers, air coolers, etc. Jackery Solar Generators are a great way to keep cooling appliances charged for long hours. The portable design and large capacity of the solar-powered generators ensure that you can charge small to large appliances even during power outages or blackouts. They are eco-friendly and do not emit toxic fumes when charging appliances.
Key Takeaways
- Hot nights can disturb the length and quality of your sleep.
- There are many ways to keep the room cool without an AC, such as using ceiling fans, blocking the sun with blinds and curtains, and using natural ventilation techniques.
- If you want to cool down the room at night, consider opening windows to create cross ventilation, placing a fan near an open window, etc.
- You can charge ACs with the solar-powered generator to lower the electricity bills and stay protected during the heat waves.
Importance of Keeping A Room Cool in Summer
Heat and sleep don't really go well with each other. This is because the process of falling asleep comes with the natural lowering of body temperature. However, hot nights can disturb the length and quality of sleep.
Keeping the room cool in summer is essential for overall well-being and comfort. Extreme heat can be dangerous, especially for pregnant women, the elderly, and people with health conditions. Heat waves can cause heat stroke and exhaustion, so cooling the room in summer becomes more critical.
Heat-related illness can have a mild to severe impact on anyone and cause heatstroke. While most people find heat waves uncomfortable, adults aged over 65 years and people working outside have a higher risk than others.
How to Keep A Room Cool Without AC
Whether you don't have an AC unit or your AC isn't working, you need to know how to keep a room cool without AC. You can cover the room windows with insulated curtains, shutters, or an awning. You can also consider installing an oversized ceiling fan or floor fan to get a refreshing air breeze.
Here are some effective strategies for keeping the house cool without an air conditioning unit or reducing the total amount of energy you need to cool the space if you have one.
Open Windows
At night, the sun is no longer shining, which means you can take advantage of the cool air by opening the windows. Opening the windows will create a cool breeze and fill the room with cool air. In addition, you should close the doors connecting the kitchen to the rest of the house during the day so the hot air coming from cooking the meal will not move to the entire house.
Close the Curtains
Opening the curtains of the room means the sunlight will directly enter the windows and heat the space. Therefore, you must keep the curtains closed during the day to block the sun and cool the room without AC. If the room windows catch a lot of direct sunlight, black or dark curtains will prevent the rays from overheating the room when the sun is most active.
Place Ice or Cold Water in Front of the Fan
Another way to keep the room cool is by placing the cold water or ice in front of the fan, causing the fan to blow the coolness of ice or water around. It's a natural AC alternative that will keep the air cool in the room.
Adjust the Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans have two modes and can be adjusted depending on the season. The blades create a breeze or force the warm air down, as hot air always travels up. Ideally, the blades create a breeze during warmer months and push warm air down during colder months. You should use exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen that release much heat.
Use a Dehumidifier
When the room is humid, it can feel extra hot and stuffy. The sweat does not evaporate, which means the body temperature remains unregulated. If you want to cool the air in the room or remove unwanted moisture, consider investing in a quality dehumidifier.
Sleep Low
The warm air rises, meaning the air at the feet is less hot than the ceiling. If there's a lot of heat in the room, you can try disassembling the bed and putting the mattress on the floor. If the floor is made up of tiles, you can also sleep on the floor during the hotter days. Tiles generally do not absorb heat, make you feel cooler, and ensure comfortable sleeping.
Upgrade to LED Lights
Like all electronics, light bulbs also emit heat. When the incandescent or fluorescent bulbs are turned on, they make it hard to cool the room and contribute to the rise of the temperature. You should consider replacing these light bulbs with LED lights as they do not emit a lot of heat and are more energy-efficient.
Use Fans in the Right Place
Fans move the air rather than cooling it. You can either blow air directly on the face and body to get a cooling effect or set the fan to draw in cool air from outside to the warm areas.
How to Keep A Room Cool At Night Without AC
Scorching temperatures can impact the night's sleep. If you often find yourself tossing and turning during the hot night or flipping the pillow over to find the cool side, you can try these cooling strategies to keep the room cool at night.
Here are some tried-and-tested tips to cool the room and avoid sleeping in the heat:
Invest in a Cooling Sheet
Regardless of your cooling mattress, choose a cooling sheet set specially designed for hot people. When selecting the best material and cooling set, look for breathable fabrics like bamboo, cotton, hemp, or tencel. These allow air to circulate properly while sleeping.
Take a Warm Bath
While bathing in warm water seems counterintuitive, it can give you a better night's sleep than a cold shower. Taking a lukewarm shower an hour or two before bed will lower the body's core temperature and trigger physiological changes.
Freeze Your Pillowcase
Before you go to sleep, put your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer for an hour or two. They will stay icy cool for long enough for you to fall asleep without feeling overheated.
Wear Cotton or Light Pajama to Beds
What you wear to bed will make a big difference in how well you sleep at night. If you want to stay cool while sleeping, consider wearing cotton or linen, as they are both breathable and light. Pajamas made from breathable materials feel comfortable at night by allowing body heat to escape.
Keep a Water Bottle Nearby
Always keep a water bottle on the nightstand. A few sips of water at regular intervals will refresh and cool down your body. Remember, room-temperature water is easier to process than cold water. If you want to have a cooling effect, you may consider pressing the cold water bottles on the inner elbows or neck to lower the body temperature.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
While alcohol might help you fall asleep, it is not good at keeping you asleep. In fact, drinking excessive alcohol before bed can interrupt your sleep cycles and worsen your sleep quality. It's ideal to avoid consuming caffeine in the second half of the day to get a better night's sleep.
Limit Exercises Before Bed
Exercise can increase body heat, making it harder to relax and fall asleep. Therefore, you should plan the exercises earlier in the day to help the body cool before bed.
Pamper Your Pulses
You can apply cold compresses or ice packs to pulse points at the wrists, elbows, neck, ankles, and behind the knees. Also, consider keeping a spray bottle of water nearby to soothe the balmy skin.
Why Not Using An AC to Cool Your Room
While AC is one of the most common appliances every household uses during the summer, it also has some drawbacks. Let's explain some of the drawbacks below:
Consider Your Electricity Bills
Even the cheapest AC unit is costly and will increase electricity bills. For example, a decent window AC unit typically consumes 3500W of electricity per hour. If you use the AC for around 5 hours, the total wattage consumption will be 3500W*5H = 17,500W or 17.5kWh. If the electricity rate is 16.88 cents per kWh, the monthly electricity bill for the AC will be $88.62.
Environmental Impact
Many people avoid using ACs because of their negative impact on the environment. Air conditioners can impact the environment negatively, just as any other machine burning fossil fuels does. While you can always purchase an eco-friendly AC, it might be quite expensive for a tiny room.
Personal Health Care
Running nose throughout the summer is often caused by the air conditioning unit and the difference in temperatures it creates compared to the outdoors. The unit also dries out the air, which is another concern. If you don't clean the AC filters regularly, they can aggravate respiratory problems such as allergies.
AC Alternatives to Keep A Room Cool
Air conditioning is not the only cooling option available. You should be familiar with plenty of other non-traditional cooling options. Here's how to keep a dorm room cool without AC:
DIY Cooling Items
If you want to try some DIY cooling methods this summer, you can make a DIY swamp cooler or DIY cold towels.
DIY Swamp Cooler: A DIY swamp cooler, or an evaporative cooler, is made by using a large bucket, a box fan, and some ice or frozen water bottles. You need to cut holes on the top and side of the bucket and place the frozen water bottles inside. Then, position the box fan right on the top of the bucket, facing it downward. When the air blows through the frozen bottles, it cools the air.
DIY Cold Towels: Soak small towels in cold water, wring out the excess, and place the damp towels in the portable freezer for a few minutes until they become chilled. Then, you can drape the chilled towels around your neck or forehead to cool down.
Cooling Methods
Many people avoid ACs because they are expensive and require costly maintenance. Thankfully, there are many affordable cooling methods that you can try this summer to reduce the heating effect.
Window Fan Exhaust System: Place one box or exhaust fan facing outward to remove hot air from the room. Place the second box fan facing inward in another window to draw cool air from outside. Both fans will create a natural air exchange that cools down the indoor space.
Cooling Curtain: You can dampen light, breathable bed sheets or curtains with cold water and hang them in front of doorways or open windows. When the breeze passes through the curtains, it cools the incoming air and reduces the indoor temperature.
PVC Pipe AC: You can build a simple AC by combining some PVC pipes, a container for ice or frozen bottles, and a small fan. The airflow routing through the frozen container will cool the air before it reaches you.
Cooling Equipment or Appliances
There are many cooling equipment or appliances you can consider, except air conditioning units. Here are some of the cost-effective and affordable alternatives you can check out:
Heat Pump: If you want an energy-efficient alternative to central air conditioning, you may consider heat pumps that can heat and cool. They work by extracting and pumping heat from the interior to the outside. For improved flexibility, the heat pumps can be ducted or ductless systems.
Ductless Mini Split: Those who want to avoid a whole-house ventilation process can consider ductless mini splits. They are ductless forms of air conditioning that generate cold air with the help of heat pumps. They work by pulling hot air out of the home and using one or more indoor air handlers with refrigerant handles to cool the interior.
Whole-House Fan: A whole-house fan or house fan is a large fan usually located in the center ceiling of a home. They take in air from open doors and windows and exhaust it through the attic. However, installing a whole-house fan can be complex due to the amount of ventilation needed.
Radiant Cooling: Radiant cooling is a process of cooling floors and ceilings by absorbing heat in a room. However, they are not ideal in humid climates and may require an extra AC unit to counteract humidity.
Oscillating Fans: Oscillating fans are the standard run-of-the-mill fans that work by creating wind chills. They have fan blades and motors without the need for refrigeration. The effects of oscillating fans will be greatly affected in warm climates.
With rising temperatures, living comfortably without cooling equipment might become difficult. In that case, you might be looking for ways to reduce electricity consumption and dependence on the utility grid. One of the best methods is choosing a solar-powered generator to charge low—to heavy-duty cooling appliances. Jackery Solar Generators are reliable and portable solar-powered generators that charge 99% of your household appliances, including air coolers, fans, and ACs.
Jackery Solar Generators Explained
Jackery is a renowned solar brand that manufactures solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations. The Jackery Solar Generators are portable and have a large capacity to handle heavy-duty cooling appliances such as ACs, fans, dehumidifiers, etc.
The Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels can be placed under direct sunlight to generate DC electricity from the free solar energy. The pure sine wave inverter of the Jackery Portable Power Stations then converts DC to AC electricity, capable of charging appliances for long hours.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a whole-home backup solution designed to efficiently charge 99% of household appliances, such as portable ACs, fans, etc. Its portable design with a pull rod and double wheels ensures easy movement from one place to another. It also has an LED light with three brightness modes to meet outdoor needs. If you live in an area that often faces power outages because of heat waves and power grid failures, the solar-powered generator would be ideal for your energy needs.
Appliances Running Time
- Portable AC (1500W) = 1.7H
- Portable Fan (50W) = 51.4H
- Refrigerator (500W) = 5.1H
- Air Cooler (150W) = 17.1H
- Ice Maker (150W) = 17.1H
Customer Review
"Makes absolutely no noise. My husband has a CPAP machine and we run that for 8 hours a night. We charged three cell phones, ran our maax fan for three days, 12V cooler, lights and still didn't run out of power." — Jennifer M.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is an expendable solar-powered generator that can charge 99% of household or outdoor appliances. Whether you're dealing with a power outage or planning to live completely off-grid, you may consider this expandable solar generator. The 20ms EPS feature ensures essential appliances such as CPAP machines and refrigerators remain powered up in seconds when there is a power outage in your area.
Appliances Running Time
- Portable AC (1500W) = 1.1H
- Portable Fan (50W) = 34.7H
- Refrigerator (500W) = 3.4H
- Air Cooler (150W) = 11.5H
- Ice Maker (150W) = 11.5H
Customer Review
"After researching. I decided to go with the 2000 Plus for its expandability, quietness, and the amount of solar input it can handle. Being able to solar charge the expansion batteries separately was a bonus." — Grimm.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh)
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh) is an ultimate solar-powered generator that's known to charge most household or outdoor appliances for long hours. It can also charge heavy-duty ACs or other cooling equipment to ensure you never have to worry about power outages or hot summers. Despite its large capacity, solar generators are portable and can be moved to different locations to charge appliances.
Appliances Running Time
- Portable AC (1500W) = 3.4H
- Portable Fan (50W) = 104.1H
- Refrigerator (500W) = 10.4H
- Air Cooler (150W) = 34.7H
- Ice Maker (150W) = 34.7H
Customer Review
"The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and Battery Pack with the 400W solar panels package is a great combination for home backup. I like the idea that if I need more power in the future, I can purchase another battery pack. The wheels on the generator are great as 64 lbs is easier to pull/push instead of carrying it." — Larry Gee.
What Is The Fastest Way to Cool A Room Naturally
When a heat wave strikes unexpectedly, it does not take long for the house to fill with hot air. Fortunately, there are many ways to cool the room naturally, such as blocking the sun with curtains, using natural ventilation techniques, and skipping the hot stuff.
Block the Sun
Light-colored curtains or blinds can reduce nearly 40% of the heat produced by sunlight. You can also consider insulated glass windows that prevent the room temperature from rising. Make sure to monitor the time and direction of the sunlight falling on the windows and cover the spot during peak sunlight hours.
Use Natural Ventilation Techniques
Consider opening the windows at night and early in the morning to let the cool air in. You can also open multiple windows at the same time to improve cross ventilation.
Another way to cool the room naturally without AC is to have plants in it. They cool the air by losing water during transpiration, which cools down and purifies the surrounding air.
Skip the Hot Stuff
All appliances generate heat while working. Whenever possible, avoid using appliances that generate residual heat, such as water heaters, hair dryers, electric irons, and dishwashers. Additionally, switch off the lights when not required.
Use Attic Fans
Improving the ventilation throughout the home will help cool the indoor air. You can use attic fans to cool down the hot room or the entire home structure. The attic ventilation fans pull the cool air up through the home, ensuring the indoor temperature remains bearable.
Close Doors of Unused Rooms
If you have many rooms that are not being used, keep the doors locked and don't waste energy cooling them down. Make sure to close the vents and doors of those rooms so the AC or other cooling equipment does not have to work to keep unused spaces cool.
FAQs
What size generator do I need for my house's portable AC?
The right size of solar generator needed for portable AC will depend directly on the wattage consumption of the appliances and the number of hours you want to use it. Consider a scenario: Suppose you have a portable AC drawing 1500W of electricity per hour.
If you are charging AC with the help of the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro during a brief power outage, the running time can be calculated as follows:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliances = 3024Wh × 0.85 ÷ 1500W = 1.7H
Note: The battery capacity is multiplied by 0.85 because there will be some kind of power loss when charging the appliances.
How to reduce room temperature in summer?
The best method to reduce room temperature in summer is by shading the windows and walls using external coverings such as awnings, blinds, or large potted plants. You can also plant deciduous trees that shade the house in summer.
Does putting ice in front of the work fan?
Yes, placing a bucket of ice in front of the fan acts as a homemade AC unit. When the air passes over the ice, it gets chilled and provides refreshing cold air around the room.
How to sleep in a hot room?
Some tips for sleeping in a hot room include sleeping with thin and cool sheets, wearing cotton or linen pajamas to bed, putting on cool and wet clothes, and sleeping on the lower floor.
What temperature is unsafe to sleep in?
The temperatures above 80°F (26.6°C) can be uncomfortable to sleep in. The optimal sleeping temperature lies between 60°F (15.5°C) and 67°F (19.4°C). Anything higher than 67°F (19.4°C) can disrupt sleep.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to cool the room without AC, from taking advantage of strategically opening and closing windows to placing a bowl of ice in front of the fan. One way to keep yourself cool and comfortable is by staying hydrated. Even with this, some methods might not work, such as having an AC.
If you are wondering how to keep a room cool without AC, you can consider cooling your home with air coolers, portable fans, and even portable air conditioners. If you want to lower your electricity bills further, you may consider investing in Jackery Solar Generators. They are powerful, portable, and eco-friendly solar generators that can charge most cooling appliances by harnessing free solar energy.
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