Easy tips to keep cool

Experts from the city share tips on how to keep your home cool this summer, without having to burn holes in the pockets or use up tonnes of water.

Paint the walls with a lighter shade — white, leafy yellow or pale blue, as lighter hues absorb heat. A fresh coat of paint makes the environment cool.

Changing of cushion covers and bed sheets to lighter shades can also help. It gives a cooling effect to the eyes.

Another trick to bring down the temperatures is to place cheap glossy white tiles on roof. It reflects back the rays of the sun.

One can go in for heat absorbent glasses for window panes. This keep your eyes from bearing the harsh rays of the sun.

Curtain plays a vital role in keeping a room cool. Use a lighter shades but the material should be thick in order to not allow warm rays from entering inside.

Put up a green shade, like the ones that nurseries use, above your terrace. It will restrict the heat that comes into the building.

Mist fans provide the much required relief and don’t take up as much electricity as ACs do, nor do they take up as much water as coolers do.

Cover the roof with terracotta tiles. They are inexpensive and temporary. They cool the house naturally and can be removed when summer passes.

Chick curtains or perforated blinds made of jute or bamboo leaves can be used. Sprinkle a glass of water on it and enjoy the cooling effect. This trick is inspired from the architecture of the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, which uses small openings in the walls and fountains to stay cool.