How to Survive an Aussie Summer without and air Conditioner

When the mercury starts to climb, most of us run to the shelter of our homes.

18:15 28 October 2019

Air conditioners play a huge role in modern-day comfort, and it is hard to imagine a searing summer without one. Air conditioners need to be installed by a professional and can be expensive.

Whether you aren’t fortunate enough to have an air conditioner or want to reduce your carbon footprint, surviving an Australian summer without AC is difficult, but it can be done. If your ancestors did it, so can you.

Curtain call

Curtains will not only keep light out of your room but also heat. Keeping your curtains closed can help reflect some of the heat energy and keep your room from overheating. Not all curtains are created equal, and some will do a much better job of keeping the heat out than others. Blackout curtains are best for stopping the heat, and it's possible to reduce the temperature of your room by thirty percent by installing this type of curtain.

Drink Water

You should be drinking at least 8 glasses of cold water a day. When the weather warms up, keeping hydrated becomes that much more important. Drinking water regularly not only helps keep your body temperature regulated but will replace lost fluids during sweating.

Become a fan of fans

Let’s get this out of the way, a fan does not lower the temperature of the air; it simply moves the air around. With this knowledge you can use fans to push and pull air around your home. A whole house fan is a great way to keep the house cool without running up your power bill; however, if you can afford to install a whole house fan, you can probably afford a Rinnai air conditioner.

Small fans can be arranged to create a cross breeze. A cross breeze is magical; it displaces hot hair with cold air almost like a natural air conditioner. Hot air rises and is less dense than cold air, so use this information to create natural airflow within your home.

Your trusty ceiling fan is good at moving air around, but it might not be dialed in to the most effective setting. Make sure your ceiling fan is spinning counter-clockwise in summer to push cold air down and create an evaporative effect on your skin.

Optimize window time

By keeping your windows closed and sealed during the hottest parts of the day, you are shielding your room from heat. When the air outside begins to cool down, it can pay to draw this cold air into your home.

Keep the windows sealed during the hottest parts of the day but open them when the sun has gone and the temperature drops, remember to close the windows back up again.

Fabric

The type of fabric both in your manchester and clothing plays a role in heat management. Synthetic fabrics tend to sweat and retain heat, while natural fibers such as cotton will breathe and create airflow around your body.

Cook outside

Ovens and hot plates radiate heat, good for cooking, but bad if we want to stay cool. By cooking outdoors, you reduce the amount of heat build-up in your interior. Not only will cooking outside keep you cool, but it is also a fantastic way of getting together with loved ones and enjoying the outdoors.

Invest in an air conditioner

Sometimes, it's better to admit defeat and continue the path of self-development. Summer in Australia can be quite extreme, and life without an air conditioner can be very uncomfortable. Even renters can find portable air conditioners that can be set up in an afternoon. By following these tips AND combining with a Rinnai air conditioner, your home will remain pleasant even when the temperature sizzles above 40 degrees outside.

Surviving the Australian summer without an AC unit is something that many students and low-income earners will know all too well. Forgoing the air con for a whole summer should be a rite of passage for any member of parliament. If you have an air conditioner, use it wisely and if you don’t, well there's always this handy guide, good luck!