Alexa, search for “how to keep house cool.”

When it’s hot and miserable outside, turning down the thermostat might seem like your only option to escape the heat.

Rest assured, there are cheaper ways to cool your home without racking up a huge energy bill. And you can put them to work today.

How to Keep a House Cool: Five Inspiring Ideas

Don’t let the heat defeat you. These five easy tricks can help you put heat in its place and help you can stay comfortable without breaking the bank.

1. Block Your Windows

Whether you have blinds, curtains, or shades, anything to block out the sunlight can help lower room temperatures.

Studies show that roughly 33% of unwanted heat come through your windows. Blackout curtains, closed blinds, and shutters can help you eliminate this extra heat and keep your house cooler.

2. Combine the Power of Ice and a Fan

This cool little fan hack is cheap, easy, and fast.

Fill a bowl with ice and place it at an angle in front of an oscillating fan. The air whisked off the ice is extra chilly and feels much like a cool sea breeze.

Using a fan, with or without ice, can be a more cost-effective way to cool your home. They usually take minimal power to run, plus you can place the fan just about anywhere for a quick cool off.

It also helps you cool only the areas that need it rather than your entire home. Whatever room you’re in, just turn on the fan and forget about being hot.

3. Engage Your Exhaust Fans

This one won’t likely show up in a Google search on “how to keep house cool” because it’s one of the most underutilized hacks. But it works.

Use your bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans to suck up excess hot air. Both of these fans were designed to pull moisture and hot air out of the atmosphere. It’s a quick fix that doesn’t cost much, but can provide almost instant results.

4. Switch to CFLs

If you’re still using incandescent light bulbs in your home, you’re creating part of your heat problem.

Not only do incandescent lights emit heat, they waste as much as 90% of their energy because of this heat.

Instead, make a simple switch to CFL bulbs that emit no heat. They are also less costly to operate and can help lower your energy bill.

5. Avoid Using Your Stove and Oven

Whenever possible, grill outdoors rather than cook inside. Stoves and ovens can quickly raise home temperatures, especially in the kitchen.

Also, grilling doesn’t affect your energy bill, so you can also save money in the process.

You Don’t Have to Live with Summer Heat

Here’s the bottom line: “How to keep house cool” doesn’t equal “expensive air conditioning”. All it takes is a little creativity and resourcefulness. Don’t sweat it.

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