When you don’t have air conditioning, any trick is good for lowering the temperature in the house. This remains one of the most effective, provided you apply it correctly.
The heat has been hitting France for several days and it is not uncommon to see the indoor temperature rise to the point of becoming unbearable. However, a very simple habit allows you to keep a cooler home without air conditioning. Many thermal comfort specialists have recommended this method for years, because it exploits a natural phenomenon capable of evacuating the heat accumulated in the home. When applied correctly, it can save several degrees and significantly improve daily comfort.
You still need to know how to go about it. Many people open their windows whenever they feel the need, regardless of the outside temperature. However, the effectiveness of this method does not depend only on the fact of aerating, but above all on the time chosen to do so. A few hours of delay can be enough to significantly reduce its benefits, or even bring more heat into the house.
The key is to create drafts in the morning and evening when the air outside is cooler than inside. To achieve this, several windows located on opposite sides of the home must be opened widely in order to cause cross-air circulation. In the morning, the operation is particularly effective between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. In the evening, it can be carried out between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., but you have to wait much later in the event of a heatwave. The ideal is to monitor a thermometer: as soon as the outside becomes cooler than the inside, it is a good time to ventilate. Before that, it is better to abstain.
This air circulation helps release heat stored in walls, floors and furniture throughout the day. To maximize results, it is important to close the windows when the outside temperature rises. Shutters, blinds or curtains must also remain closed on the facades most exposed to the sun in order to limit heat gain.
Repeated every day, this habit acts like real natural air conditioning. It does not consume any energy and relies solely on the temperature difference between day and night. In some homes, it makes it possible to maintain several degrees cooler than outside during the hottest periods. A simple, free and particularly effective solution when extreme heat sets in for a long time.
