The Weekend Sun is running a series of eight ‘Summer Smart’ stories with our good friend Elfie the Circus Elf helping us out to keep safe and healthy these Christmas holidays. Today’s Summer Smart #6 is on keeping cool without air conditioning.

Not everyone has the luxury of air conditioning, and with power prices climbing, many households are looking for low-cost, low-tech ways to keep cool through the Bay of Plenty’s warmest months.

Luckily, Kiwis are a resourceful bunch – and there are plenty of clever ways to beat the heat without blowing the budget.

Keep windows closed during the day when the air is hot – especially on the sunny side of the house. Open them early in the morning and after 7pm to let in cooler air. Setting up a fan in front of an open window at night can draw cooler air in faster.

For a fan hack for maximum chill, a standard pedestal fan can work even better with a few tweaks. Place a frozen bottle of water or a bowl of ice in front of it or set it up facing a shaded window to pull in outside air, and angle it low in the evening as cooler air sinks.

DIY shade is your friend. Consider hanging light-coloured sheets or thermal curtains over sunny windows. Use reflective film or temporary car sunshades on hot glass doors and plant fast-growing shade plants or climbers along sunny fences.

Outdoors, a pop-up gazebo or a strategically placed beach umbrella can create an instant cool zone.

Remember to cool your body, not just the room. Keep a spray bottle of water in the fridge for quick skin spritzing. Use cool flannels on your neck, wrists and ankles. Wear loose, light-coloured clothing and go barefoot at home. You can also take lukewarm or cold showers, as hot showers raise your core temperature. A fun thing to do is put a T-shirt and pair of shorts through the washing machine and then put them on still damp – it can keep your body cool for hours.

Remember to stay hydrated – it’s your body’s built-in cooling system, and you can keep water bottles topped up in the fridge.

If your home gets too hot during the day, cool off at your local library or shopping centre, and movie theatres offer free air-conditioning. Or head to local public swimming pools or shaded playgrounds.

You don’t need a flash cooling system – just a few smart habits and a bit of planning. With a little preparation and a lot of ice, you can stay cool, comfortable and safe – all summer long.

*The Weekend Sun gives special thanks to Circus in a Flash Ltd - We bring the Circus to you for bringing this series to life.