Heatwaves are a challenge for almost everyone, but they can be especially uncomfortable (not to mention dangerous) if you don’t have air conditioning or limit how often you do.
Many Spaniards find themselves in this situation: one in three houses has difficulty paying energy and utility bills. As a result, 11 percent of households keep their homes at unhealthy temperatures, even during heatwaves.
And the new coronavirus pandemic has made dealing with the summer heat even more difficult as many people spend more time at home than ever. Also, cold-weather destination destinations such as movie theaters, shopping malls, and restaurants are now closed, and if you’re in a badly affected area, you may not want to venture into such a place to find relief.
Fortunately, there are still clever and easy tricks that can help keep you relatively cool, even in the unbearable heat.
8 ways to overcome the heatwave without air conditioning
Make the most of your fan
You can make your indoor fans cool the rooms even more efficiently by placing frozen water bottles or a cooler filled with ice directly in front of them. You can also place a towel moistened with cold water on its frame. These tactics will immediately diffuse the chilled air.
The ceiling fans are particularly important because they create a cooling effect of the wind. Invert the motor to move the blades in a counterclockwise rotation to create a summer breeze effect.
Enjoy the night breezes
When dusk comes, open all windows and, if you can safely do so, doors, this will promote air circulation and allow cooler air to enter your home.
Place box fans near doors and windows; They can act as an exhaust system that expels heat from your home. At dawn, close all those windows again, and also close all the blinds and curtains, to decrease the amount of sun that enters your home.
Strategically place plants
They can block out some of the sun and keep rooms cooler throughout the day. Plants actually release excess water into the air from their leaves to cool themselves, and so does everything around them.
Cuts unnecessary heat sources
Who needs to cook during a heatwave? It makes sense to avoid using appliances like your oven and stove, especially during the day. Instead, grill outside or, if you must cook indoors, use slow cookers or instant cookers, which will prevent your kitchen from turning into a sauna.
Another tip: replace all incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, which emit less heat, and are the most energy-efficient option out there.
Make a barricade in the basement
If you have a finished basement, consider taking shelter there when a heat wave hits. During the summer, hot air rises and consequently the upper parts of our homes get hotter. Ground floors are significantly cooler, and basements are often at the perfect temperature if you’re looking for a small habitable oasis.
Freeze your bedding
Put your pillows and sheets in the fridge or freezer during the day, then take them out just before bed. Simply roll them into any large plastic or paper bags you have. You can even stay up for the week by freezing a couple of sheets in a plastic bag and removing them when necessary.
Consider installing evaporative coolers
If you live in an area that tends to be low in humidity, you may want to buy evaporative coolers, window units that remove heat from the environment by using water evaporation to create cold air.
These devices cost about half the installation of central air conditioners and use only about a quarter of the energy. And unlike central air conditioning, which only recirculates the same air, evaporative coolers provide a constant flow of fresh air into the home.
Put a fan for the whole house
If you live in a multi-story house, you can buy and install a fan for the entire house for less than € 2,000. Installs in your attic and creates negative pressure by drawing hot air from your home into the attic. This negative pressure then draws in cooler air from outside, cooling your home.