Almost nine out of 10 residences in the United States rely on air conditioning to stay comfortable during the warmer months, according to the US Energy Information Administration. While AC keeps you from dripping sweat all day, it can also drive up your utility costs as temperatures climb. When you stop your cooling system from overworking, you keep extra cash in your wallet. Those small savings can accumulate into a noticeable reduction on your bills.
“We can confidently say that your HVAC is the largest portion of your utility expenses, so making tweaks there will give you the most savings,” said Sally Thelen, former spokeswoman for Duke Energy, which serves customers across seven states.
You don’t have to roast at home when it’s 95 degrees outside. If you know practical ways to chill a room without relying on air conditioning, you’ll be more comfortable — and see the difference in your electric bill.
How to Cool Down a Room Without AC
The Department of Energy, Duke Energy, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and a few Floridians offered practical tips on how to cool rooms without air conditioning.
1. Install an Affordable Screen Door
Screen doors on the front and back let fresh air flow through your home in the mornings and evenings, or even all day if outside temps are moderate. A wooden screen door runs about $100 plus installation if you’d rather have a pro handle it.
There are also magnetic screen options starting near $12.99 that you can fit yourself by attaching them to the door frame with Velcro or similar fasteners.
2. Make a Simple DIY Cooler
Got a little ingenuity? You can learn ways to cool a room without AC by moving cooler air into living spaces through a fan, window or doorway.
- Place a bowl filled with ice in front of a fan.
- Hang a damp sheet over an open window to cool incoming air.
- Wet a towel, roll it up, and secure it to the front of a box fan.
3. Expel Hot Air with Box Fans in Windows
Push warm air out by positioning box fans to blow out of the windows in rooms you’re using. Then run a ceiling fan to circulate the cooler air that remains.
There’s no need for multiple fans; just move a few from common areas to bedrooms at night.
4. Shut Doors to Unoccupied Rooms
It’s easier to cool a smaller area. Keep doors closed to unused rooms so the cool air from a ceiling fan, cross breeze, or AC focuses on occupied spaces. Roll up a towel to block the gap under the door if needed.
5. Keep Shades, Blinds and Curtains Closed
You don’t have to live in total darkness, but covering windows during the hottest part of the day prevents sun rays from warming your home further. Blackout curtains are especially effective at keeping cool air inside.
6. Open Windows in the Morning and Evening
If temperatures in the morning and evening are between about 50 and 70 degrees where you live, open windows to let cooler air flow through. Close them when daytime temperatures climb and the sun intensifies.
7. Reverse Ceiling Fan Direction
In summer, ceiling fans should spin counterclockwise to push air downward and create a cooling breeze.
Hunter, a ceiling fan maker, notes you can often set your thermostat about four degrees higher if fans are circulating air correctly — for example, 80 degrees may feel like 76.
Most ceiling fans have a small switch on the central housing to change rotation direction.
(In winter, reverse to clockwise on a low setting to gently pull warm air down from the ceiling.)
8. Create a Cross Breeze
To get a strong cross breeze on breezy evenings, open windows just a little. The smaller the opening, the stronger the draft. If your windows open at both top and bottom, try opening the lower sash on one side of the house and the upper sash on the opposite side.
9. Use Exhaust Fans Everywhere
Run the range hood and bathroom exhaust fans to help move air through the house and reduce humidity as an added benefit.
10. Seal Cracks and Gaps to Keep Cool Air In
Keep conditioned air where you want it by sealing leaks and gaps. Apply weatherstripping around movable elements like doors and windows and use caulk to fill cracks in walls and stationary frames.
11. Choose Cotton Sheets for Cooler Sleep
Cotton is highly breathable, so opt for cotton sheets. You can also check out these top-rated cooling sheets if you’re a hot sleeper and want cooler nights.
12. Wear Natural Fibers During the Day
Clothing made of natural fibers like cotton or linen breathes better and produces less sweat than synthetic fabrics in hot weather. Choose these materials as your go-to summer wardrobe to stay comfortable without AC.
13. Sleep and Gather in the Basement
Heat rises, so if you have a basement, set up a temporary sleep area there. Some families choose to eat and socialize in the basement during hot spells. It’s also a great play area for kids — just avoid crowding, which generates extra body heat. In two-story homes, try sleeping on the first floor.
14. Turn Off Lights You Don’t Need
While you don’t need to live in darkness, switching off lights in empty rooms helps keep your home cooler since bulbs produce heat.
15. Run Appliances at Night
Operate your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer after sundown when the air is cooler.
16. Do Most Cooking in the Morning
Avoid cooking later in the day when the house has already warmed up. Prepare meals in the morning and reheat them in the microwave at dinner, or opt for cool dishes like sandwiches, fruit and salads.
17. Unplug Idle Electronics
Electronics produce heat, so unplug devices when not in use to help keep your home cooler. They also draw standby power, occasionally called “energy vampires,” which can add to your electric bill.
How to Save Energy When You Run the AC
Sometimes the summer heat is intense enough that fans aren’t sufficient and you need to use air conditioning. Many of the tips above will let you set your thermostat higher and reduce energy use. Here are three additional ways to be more efficient with AC.
1. Leave the AC on Low Rather Than Turning It Off
There’s debate about whether to leave AC running when you’re not home. Some suggest it uses more energy to cool a very hot house from scratch than to maintain a moderate temperature.
“Generally our recommendation is to turn it up, but not off,” Thelen at Duke Energy said. “It will be much harder for the system to cool from zero. We suggest raising it to around 78 or higher while you’re away and then returning it to a comfortable setting when you get back.”
2. Replace Air Filters Regularly
A clogged air filter makes your HVAC system work harder and consume more energy. Keep filters clean or swap them out on schedule to improve efficiency.
3. Close the Fireplace Damper
Make sure the fireplace damper is closed so cool indoor air doesn’t escape up the chimney and hot outdoor air doesn’t enter.
We all want to know how to cool a room without AC or at least use less of it. Try a handful of these simple adjustments to keep your home comfortable and cut down on summer energy costs.
Kazi Rivera is a former senior writer at Savinly.
1. US Energy Information Administration
For more tips on staying comfortable without running your AC, see how to stay cool without ac.
