As the Philippines is a tropical country, it's a given that there will be days when heat and humidity get unbearable, and while you wish you can keep your AC running, you're torn between being comfortable, and going tipid by leaving it off while feeling hulas.
The thing is, you don't have to have it running for hours on end to keep your home cool as there are a lot of other ways to do so (without having to cry over your sky-rocketing electrical bill). Here are a few you can try:
Keep your curtains closed
As beneficial as letting in natural light may be, drawing back your curtains or drapes, especially in the day, can also let in a lot of heat from the sun, therefore making your space a lot hotter and tempting you to turn on the AC. Keep your curtains closed to reduce the amount of heat entering your home. However, you may also choose to invest in screens or window types that allow light to filter in but keep the heat out.
Use plants
Yes, being a PlanTita helps. We all know how plants can make any space look prettier, but having greens indoors can also cause many other benefits. One of these is plants’ ability to help make a room feel cooler. During the process of transpiration, plants lose air, which then helps cool down the air surrounding them. Imagine what it would be like if you had a lot of plants inside your home!
Stick to fans
Compared to air conditioning units, it is far cheaper to run electric fans. But you won’t be getting short-changed—fans are also able to circulate cooler air and make any space feel instantly more comfortable.
Turn off the lights and appliances
It is probably nothing new to us that appliances and light fixtures, when running, generate heat. As much as possible, when not in use, it is best to keep these switched off. Not only does it cool down your space, but you also save up on your power consumption!
This story originally appeared on Realliving.com.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
