These tips will both keep the temperature down, and make the best of your apartment:
- Two electric fans will run cheaper than an air-conditioner. Why two? First, like all machines, an electric fan that runs constantly day-in and day-out will most likely quickly develop trouble and break down, not a nice prospect in the heat of summer. Having a second electric fan will make sure each unit gets some rest in after a few hours of operation. When it gets really hot and one fan isn't doing it for you, a second fan will be a godsend. If there are two or more of you in a room, then everyone gets a lot more air with two fans.
- Keep those electric fans clean! When it's hot and dry, there is lots of dust in the air. Don't wait until you see an accumulation of dirt forming on the grill of your fan. That's disgusting and ugly, messier and harder to clean, and will cut down the efficiency of your fan by as much as 90%.
- Put on your geek cap and think in terms of air flow currents. Instead of just pointing everything at you and sort of trying to mash up the biggest volume of air you can into the point where you are, try setting things up so that the fan (or fans) create a flow of air across the room. This will make a bigger sweet spot, and wherever you go within the room, you'll have a pleasant soft breeze. This is an especially useful cool apartment idea when there are more than two people in the room and only one fan.
- I started out by stating that fans are cheaper to run than an air-conditioner and will still make for a cool apartment, but if you do have an air-conditioning unit installed, and ever find that it's not making the space cool enough, try cleaning the air-filter first and foremost, and then consider getting an electric fan to help out. Yes, a fixed air-con unit, a movable fan, and some creative "air-flow" thinking will do wonders.
- Lastly, don't underestimate the psychological effects of light colors for the walls and furniture; light, billowy fabrics as curtains, and even light minty scents. A mint-flavored teabag hanging in each corner of the room especially where the breeze blows through them will gently whisper "cool" to your senses.
These are just a few quick cool apartment ideas for the summer!
