With summer in full swing and the inevitable hot days and nights ahead, keeping your home cool is a top priority for maintaining a comfortable space. While cranking up the air conditioning is the standard go-to, it can be costly to install and run.
Inspired by the different ways you can keep an apartment cool in summer without AC, I searched for the best alternatives to cool down a room that wouldn't drastically drive up my electricity bills.
Below are my top picks that have been lifesavers during the hotter months – these five products are perfect for cooling any space while cutting energy bills.
Cooling products I use instead of an AC
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In addition to ideas like rearranging a room to make it cooler, these cost-effective methods are great eco cooling techniques to reduce your carbon footprint and be more sustainable at home.
Evaporative air coolers
Unlike traditional air conditioners, which consume a significant amount of electricity, the Dreo evaporative air cooler uses only a fan and water – consuming using considerably less energy.
It works by drawing warm air from the room and passing it through wet evaporative pads, where heat is absorbed and the air is cooled down. The cooler, more humid air is then blown back into the room.
I like this cooler because it's lightweight and portable, so it can easily be moved to specific rooms or areas that need cooling, unlike many traditional AC units that cool entire homes.
It also operates more quietly than traditional ACs, making it a better choice for cooling a bedroom or home office.
While fans can keep your home cool, they do little to increase humidity in hot and dry periods, making your home feel uncomfortable. Thankfully, the 'cool mist' feature of this humidifier can make any space feel fresher and more comfortable, mitigating issues associated with low humidity.
I've grown to love this humidifier's essential oils tray, which allows you to add a few drops of essential oils to disperse a fragrance throughout your space along with the mist. I particularly recommend choosing those with natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender, to help purify the air.
Equipped with smart controls, including Alexa integration and a mobile app, this humidifier also allows you to adjust the settings remotely.
This fan is battery-operated and compact, making it ideal for targeted cooling, such as your bed at night or home office while working remotely. While this can't compete with the cooling capacity of a whole-home AC system, this fan offers a low upfront and running cost, combines the benefits of a fan and a cooling mist, and can rotate 360 degrees, offering a practical localized solution.
The fan has a long battery life and offers quiet operation, making it an environmentally friendly and convenient solution for staying cool without the high costs of traditional AC units and fans.
Socket fan light
While the best fans can be a low-cost way to cool down a room, ceiling fans often have high installation costs. This is where socket fan lights come in.
This product combines the functions of a ceiling fan and light bulb, making it perfect for small spaces. It's easy to install –designed to be screwed into any standard bulb socket – and can be easily moved to different locations, offering flexibility that fixed AC units do not. Additionally, LED light consumes less power than traditional incandescent bulbs.
The fan is available in white, bronze, black, and silver, making it ideal for cooling a space without disrupting the home's aesthetic.
Cooling bedding
One of my favorite home remedies to stay cool without spending is cooling bedding.
This cooling comforter is made from a fabric designed to absorb heat from your body and dissipate it, promote airflow, reduce heat buildup, and enhance breathability. It should help keep you cooler throughout the night without cranking up an AC.
The comforter also has moisture-wicking properties that draw sweat away from your body, ensuring a more comfortable night's sleep in hotter months.
While turning on your AC every now and then may be necessary, integrating a combination of cost-effective cooling methods with low running, maintenance, and installation costs can effectively reduce your summer utility bills without compromising on comfort.
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