Czech and Slovak tips for keeping homes cool without air conditioning

Cooling a home during hot weather can be achieved with simple practices that avoid the expense of air‑conditioning. The advice recommends keeping windows shut while daytime temperatures peak and opening them only in the early morning or after sunset, when outdoor air is cooler, to create a cross‑draft. Home appliances that generate heat—such as ovens, stoves, televisions, computers, laundry machines, and dryers—should be operated during these cooler periods or turned off entirely.

Shading windows with blinds, curtains or external awnings reduces solar heat gain, especially on south‑ and west‑facing rooms. Reducing indoor humidity by limiting indoor drying of laundry and using fans combined with a bowl of ice or frozen water bottles can lower perceived temperature. Cooling balcony or terrace surfaces with a splash of cold water before evening ventilation further lowers incoming air temperature. Together, these measures lower indoor heat, improve comfort, and reduce electricity bills.

The guidance is aimed at residents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia seeking low‑cost, energy‑saving ways to stay comfortable during heatwaves.