Home Cooling Alternatives: Eco-friendly Alternatives to Air-conditioning Systems

Keeping a nice and cool home during the summer months may seem like a challenge. A home with a cool and fresh interior becomes a necessity, especially if you have small children, seniors, or a pregnant woman in the house. You want to keep them comfortable as possible amid the high temperature outdoors.

Installing an air-conditioning system is common for homeowners to enjoy the benefits of cool, quality air. Having one in the house can prevent electronics from overheating, improve sleep and productivity, and minimize risks of heatstroke and dehydration. But air-conditioning systems also come with plenty of concerns and hidden costs. They are notorious energy-wasters that further contribute to high electricity bills and adverse environmental impacts.

If you are a homeowner who wants to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable changes for your home, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives to cool down without harming Mother Nature. Here are some eco-friendly alternatives to air-conditioning systems to reduce energy costs and save the environment.

Home improvements

It is important to understand how heat gets transferred into our home interiors before applying green alternatives to your home. Heat can travel in three different processes: conduction, radiation, and convection.

Through conduction, heat passes through solid surfaces, such as the windows, doors, roof, and walls. You can minimize the heat on these surfaces by using proper insulation. If you want to control the conducted heat, insulating the roof will prevent the warm temperatures to flow into your home.

Another technique is to use white roofs, as they are effective at reflecting the sun’s rays. You’ll often see them in cities, where temperatures rise sharply. You can also opt for a light paint or light tile set aside from treated white roofs. Avoid using dark shades since they will only absorb the heat and increase the temperature in every room. This is a great investment to maintain a cool temperature in your house any month of the year.

When it comes to radiating heat, building awnings near the windows will prevent the sunlight to shine directly in your home. Installing fans and vents in the attic will prevent the convective heat to circulate the house by pushing it towards the roof. You can invest in quality home ventilation that promotes faster air movements to give your home a fresher and cooler ambiance.

Hydronic cooling

This is a brand-new type of air conditioning that will likely dominate the air-cooling industry. It is also known as radiant hydronic cooling that works by running cold water through pipes in the house. It can cool every surface of your home, such as the floors and walls. The cold water pumping through the pipes will absorb the heat produced by the appliances and people inside the house.

Hydronic cooling units made of aluminum panels are the most common and carry a concealed tubing. You can mount these panels on the ceiling or embed them into the flooring. But you have to ensure they have continuous access to a water source, so water can travel underground smoothly. Unfortunately, this unit is not applicable in humid places since it requires dry interior air to avoid issues related to condensation.

Although it requires energy to function, the unit will only need a small amount of energy than the traditional cooling systems. Nevertheless, hydronic cooling is still an eco-friendly alternative that will save more money in the long run.

Trees and greenery

Out of all the eco-friendly alternatives we have mentioned, this one is probably one of the most effective ways to cool your home and protect the environment. If your home has a terrace or a large ground area, consider starting a garden or plant trees. Although planting a tree may take a while, they are great investments if you want your home to stay cool any day of the year and improve its curb appeal.

You may also consider planting shade trees with a high growth rate. These include Northern Catalpa, Hackberry, Red Sunset Maple, Northern Red Oak, and American Sweetgum. These trees are certainly attention grabbers because of their unique features. There’s also the evergreen tree that reduces heat emissions in the house by over 50%.

While waiting for the tree to grow, you can start adding plants around your home. Abundant greenery can go a long way to make your home look fresh inside and out.

Summer is indeed one of the best seasons of the year, as it reminds us of beaches and warm days under the sun. But don’t let the rising temperatures ruin all the fun. If you want to stay cool without harming the planet, consider our eco-friendly suggestions to cool down and stay comfortable all year round.