With the coming days’ temperatures expected to approach 100°F, it’s undoubtedly a challenge to stay cool without blasting the AC. Being new to air conditioning myself, it has been quite the struggle balancing my need to stay cool in balmy
After abandoning my first method to stay cool sans AC (heavy whining/tantrums), we tried turning the AC on sparingly (while at home and awake) and keeping the curtains drawn to banish direct sunlight. This worked great most of the time, but on days when the sun and temperature were unyielding, the curtains were no match. I’d arrive home to a sauna, an overheated, miffed cat, and giant cacti that had only weeks ago been humble succulents. Something had to be done. There had to be a way of keeping the place livable during the day without electrifying it.
Internet sleuthing and a trip to a home repair store provided some promising options, one of which really did the trick for our abode: window film. At first I was skeptical that a thin layer of grayish plastic would work, but with a receipt in tow, I stuck the film on our most sun-worshipping windows. Success! The film provides a pleasant, barely-there tint, blocks up to 99% of the sun’s UV rays, reduces heat gain through the windows, and will (fingers crossed) help stave off some AC reliance.
So that’s what worked for us, and I’m pleased as punch with the results. How about you? What has worked in your home to help cool things off without cranking the AC?
