Have you ever thought about alternatives to air conditioning? Some great options can help keep you cool while lowering your electricity bill and saving money in the process! Check out these 10 alternatives to get you started.
10 Best Alternatives to Air Conditioning
1. Solar Cooling
Solar cooling is a great alternative to keep cool your home cool on a hot day. This method is inexpensive to cool your home; the best part is that you’ll be using the sun’s energy!
There are a few ways that solar cooling works. One way to do this is by using an absorption chiller, which uses heat to create a cool effect almost all the time. This is the same way of cooling as a refrigerator, except that it does not need electricity or a compressor.
Another way is by adopting the same method of cooling as the “Ice Bear,” by using ice as a means of cooling.
Related: Solar Energy, Is It Safe to Walk On Solar Panels? & Top Sustainable Technologies
2. Attic Fan
An attic fan, a somewhat more straightforward form of a swamp cooler, eliminates humidity limits and works best in locations or on days when the temperature isn’t too hot outdoors.
It simply circulates air giving a steady breeze and pushing stuffy, warmer air out.
This fan draws cool air inside the home and discharges hot, stuffy air through the attic vents.
Pros: An attic fan is simple to use and install. This is a very inexpensive method of cooling your home.
Cons: If your attic isn’t clean, you may pull dust (and humidity) into the home. In addition, while it can be used in summer and warm weather, it will not work well in fall and winter.
3. Room Fans
A room fan is, just as the name suggests, a fan that is designed to cool one room. It’s also more affordable than a whole-house air conditioning unit.
Room fans are also used for drying clothes and as a backup cooling system when other means fail to cool your home.
One thing with these fans is that they operate differently than the ones on your ceiling; they are generally used in smaller rooms and are meant to be placed near one location in the room you feel needs cooling.
Pros: Room fans are cheap and easy to use. They only need to work when called upon, can be placed wherever required, and can cool down part of the house.
Cons: This may be an inexpensive alternative compared to the other cooling methods, but it might not work well for those who wish to cool multiple rooms at once.
4. Natural Air Circulation
Opening windows on different sides of your house may boost air circulation and lower the temperature.
This permits air to enter the room through one window and exit through the other, resulting in a draught. The free flow of air from inside to outside means there’s no warm air building up.
You can also open the windows at night if it is safe. Because the temperature is lower at night, this may give excellent results.
Pros: You get the benefit of fresh air without using a whole-house air conditioning unit.
Cons: You need to keep an eye on the weather and ensure that the windows are shut when it rains. Also, opening windows at night can let mosquitoes in, so you should be prepared for that.
5. Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Geothermal heating and cooling make use of the more stable subsurface temperatures. Several geothermal systems are available, but they all rely on liquid flowing through a network of subterranean tubes to transfer heat from the home to the earth and vice versa during hot weather.
Pros: According to the Department of Energy, a geothermal heat pump system is more energy-efficient than a typical HVAC system, recouping the cost of installation in energy savings within five to ten years.
Cons: A lot of labor is necessary to dig and bury the pipes. This adds to the total cost of building the project.
6. Evaporative Air Cooler
If you live in the right setting, an evaporative air cooler is an excellent alternative to central air conditioning.
These cooling devices function by evaporating water and adding humidity to the air. This will have a significant cooling effect when humidity levels fall below 50 percent. In certain instances, you can reduce the temperature in your home by 10 degrees or more.
Pros: This device can effectively cool your home to a large degree. These evaporative air coolers are energy-efficient and will significantly cool your home under the right conditions. In addition to being lightweight and relatively portable, the devices are helpful in various settings. It’s both suitable for home and office.
Cons: The problem with an evaporative cooler is it only works best in a dry environment. If you live in a dry area, this will make your house far cooler. Those who reside in humid climates cannot use these devices effectively. Depending on your geographic region, this might be a fantastic solution or something that won’t function very well.
7. Thermal Curtains
Windows are often the largest source of heat and solar gain in a home.
Thermal curtains are another option that may be used as an alternative to an air conditioner.
Thermal curtains can minimize the heat transported through your windows by up to 24 percent, according to networx.com.
They may provide further energy savings, reduce noise, and block out all light, which is perfect for bedrooms.
Pros: Thermal curtains can be placed in your bedroom window or a bedroom window that’s in direct sunlight. They don’t require any plug-in or special wiring and are very easy to install. All you’ll need is a curtain rod and the thermal curtains.
Cons: Thermal curtains are ineffective in high humidity, such as in Florida and desert regions.
8. Plants
Plants naturally help cool a room by removing excess humidity.
They are one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality and reduce indoor pollution.
Plant leaves act like filters by absorbing pollutants, dust, and other airborne particles that can cause damaging health effects on humans.
Pros: Plants are a natural way of cooling your home, but they’re not the most effective method of cooling. Compared to other methods that are more energy-efficient and cost-effective, they don’t cool as much as other options. They do, however, add to the beauty and ambiance of your home.
Cons: Plants need sunlight to survive and remain healthy, which may be a problem for someone who lives in a home that doesn’t get enough sunlight.
Related: Grow Herbs Indoors, Home Office Plants
9. Dehumidifier
This method will only work if you live in a place with a lot of humidity, and it could save you some money on your energy bill.
Dehumidifiers don’t cool your space. However, they do make it much more comfortable by reducing the humidity.
We feel hot when it’s humid because we can’t cool ourselves down.
When it’s hot and humid, your sweat doesn’t dry out, so you don’t cool down like you usually would. If you reduce the humidity, your body will feel much cooler and more comfortable.
Pros: Dehumidifiers also help cut down on mold and mildew and protect your furniture from the damage that humidity can cause.
Cons: Dehumidifiers require maintenance. When they stop working, they must be replaced.
10. Wall Vines
Wall vines will generally provide a cooling effect in your home.
Because the materials used to construct your home, such as bricks, absorb and hold heat, the inside of your home heats up.
These vines absorb and release heat from the sun, preventing your walls from heating up – This can save you some money on bills.
Pros: Wall vines are a great way to cool a space. The plants themselves also add beauty to your property.
Cons: This cooling method doesn’t keep your home as cool as an air conditioner or a fan.
Author’s Note
Cooling your home is not always easy, but there are many options that you can use to do so. It’s important to know what will work in your geographical region and be as energy-efficient as possible. These methods might not work for everyone, but they’ll help some people.
