During a long period of heat, heat builds up in all living spaces that are not air-conditioned. If you don’t want to afford air conditioning, you can still take sensible measures to lower the temperature in your home.
In warmer countries, the installation of air conditioning in private accommodation as well as in holiday homes such as apartments and hotels is usually standard. In this country, however, summers have never been so hot that air-conditioned living spaces were necessary. But recent years have shown that summers in Germany are getting warmer and warmer. And the rising temperatures as a result of a long period of heat significantly limit the quality of life in one’s own home – especially at night. But is a permanently installed or the only way to cool your home? We’ll show you five more environmentally friendly and cheaper alternatives.
1. Block out light
Since not only the outside temperatures but also the warm rays of the sun heat up the rooms during the day, you should block out the light. The best way to do this is with roller shutters or blinds that are installed outside – i.e. in front of the window pane. This will shield the heat before it gets inside the apartment. If you cannot or are not allowed to install either, there are other ways to darken the rooms: Either you install self-adhesive on the inside of the window. However, you should remember that not only the heat, but also the light stays outside permanently. Or you can opt for opaque and heat-insulating (preferably made of linen or cotton), which ensure that no sunlight gets inside.
2. Close window
If temperatures are high for several days in a row, the living spaces will no longer cool down at night. In this case, it is a good idea to leave all windows (and doors) completely closed during the day to keep the heat out. Instead, ventilate thoroughly in the evening (or even better at night), ideally across the room and over a longer period of time. The best time to do this is when the temperatures outside drop noticeably. It is important to note that you really do keep all windows closed during the day – even if this makes the air in the rooms warm and stuffy. Only those who follow this approach without compromise can noticeably cool the apartment. In addition, the fewer people there are in the apartment and give off their body heat to the air, the better this method works.
3. Install fans
Even if are powered by electricity, they do not use nearly as much energy as air conditioning. Therefore, they are a popular tool in many households to cool the home – but strictly speaking, they do not do that at all, as they only set the warm air in motion and accelerate it. This causes the sweat on our skin to evaporate more quickly and the body (and not the room) acclimatizes more quickly. However, it remains questionable whether setting up a is still useful when the outside temperature is 35 degrees or more. It is still worth a try, preferably in combination with a bowl full of ice cubes or ice-cold water that you place in front of the device. This should cool the air in a similar way to an air conditioner.
4. Expand sun protection
To cool down the rooms on hot days, you can not only take measures inside your home, but also outside your own four walls: If you have a balcony or terrace, there is the possibility of installing a shade-providing (including UV protection) in front of the windows. In such a way that no sun rays can get into the apartment – ideally on a wall or you can use suitable rods to tighten the fabric. Alternatively, you can also use a to the outside wall, there are special models that are only mounted using two stands. No drilling required. Do you want a fixed To install it, you must be the owner yourself or obtain permission from your landlord.
5. Switch off electrical devices
Every household appliance that runs on electricity generates heat – even if it is only in standby mode. For this reason, on hot summer days it is advisable to unplug all appliances that do not necessarily have to run continuously (such as the refrigerator): In other words, televisions and laptops, vacuum cleaners and shavers are unplugged. It can also be helpful not to use heat-generating appliances such as the stove or oven on particularly hot days. Instead, opt for cold dishes. And the tumble dryer can also stay offline in summer, as the wet laundry would simply dry quickly in the air. On the other hand, it can be sensible to switch to a It is worth investing in, as it extracts the warm air while cooking and ideally (depending on the model) even transports it directly outside.
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
