How Locals Save On Electricity During Summer

Save money on your electric bill

The heat and sweating can make Thai summers feel like they last forever. Especially since Thai summers last all year long and are only interrupted by a brief rainy season and a couple of weeks of “chilly” weather. The temptation to keep the AC on all day will be tempting, but a visit from your electricity bill will be even more frightening than a visit from your in-laws. So how would you save electricity during Thai summer?

Here are some local tips on how to not go broke during summer while staying cool in Thailand.

1. Let’s go to the mall!

Image credit: Vyacheslav Argenberg via Wikimedia Commons

Everybody come and play!

There’s a reason why Thai people love going to the mall, and it’s not shopping. Free AC and a place to lounge for hours while we all wait for the sun to go down. That’s what it’s all about.

Plus, there are so many malls in Thailand with their own unique vibe which means tons of exploration opportunities. Come see for yourself why Thai malls have a reputation of being among the best in the world.

If you’re curious about where to even begin, the new train lines have made ICONSIAM more accessible than ever.

2. DIY air conditioning

Image credit: Khaosod

Here’s some local technology for you to use. You don’t need to be MacGyver or have a degree in engineering to make it work.

To have your own DIY air conditioning, simply place a bowl of ice in front of a fan and turn the fan on. Then, for a few minutes, you’ll get cool air blowing from your fan until the ice inevitably melts away.

Make sure your fridge has a spare set of ice cubes ready, so that you can replace your melted ice.

3. Escape the city by traveling

Image credit: Earng.oi via Wikimedia Commons

With huge holidays coming up in April, one of the best ways of escaping the heat is literally to get out of Thailand.

Use some of those paid leaves strategically and plan for multi-week long trip to somewhere cool. Many of us are definitely looking at Japan or Europe to take a break from this heat.

Alternatively, you can also travel locally. Northern Thailand and many of our national parks are great destinations to cool down as well.

And if you’re picking to go to our national parks, keep in mind that there’s an ongoing promo where if you visit all 156 Thai national parks, you’ll get a special reward.

4. Get out and back in for some indoor activities

Image credit: GameHaus Board Game Cafe via Facebook

If malls aren’t your thing and you can’t travel, try indoor activities!

For starters, Thailand has plenty of board game cafes. Even if you don’t have a regular group of friends, there are plenty of groups willing to accept strays too. We recommend checking out some of the groups on MeetUp.

Recently, indoor climbing has also become much more popular. We featured Urban Playground back in 2022, and they’re still one of the more popular options today.

5. Grow plants or trees in your home

Image credit: @kitchenhangarden via Instagram

Adding greens to your home is a surefire way to cool down your home a bit.

If you’re not sure how to start, many daytime markets will have a section dedicated to gardens. One of the most popular is located in the famous Chatuchak Market.

Chatuchak Flower Market is open from Tuesday to Thursday 9am-6pm. However, we recommend going on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Address: QGWV+XF3, Kamphaeng Phet Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Opening hours: 9am-6pm, Tues-Thurs
Google Maps

6. Replace your energy-inefficient appliances

Image credit: Vladislav Nikonov via Unsplash

A lot of Thai households will have older electric appliances that aren’t up to par in terms of energy efficiency. To save a bit on electricity for this year and future years, it’s time to upgrade.

Bonus points if you combine this option with going to the mall.

Appliances you’ll want to target are the ones that’ll see the most use: air conditioners, fans, refrigerators, and lights.

It also helps that, with the exception of lights, these are the appliances that’ll help you combat Thai summer heat the most. This is one of those few times we recommend not going to one of Thailand’s many famous markets, like Khlong Thom, to do your shopping. We do recommend you try them for repairs, if the warranty won’t cover the damages though.

Staying cool Thai-style

Saying stay cool might be a bit of a stretch, but with these tips, you’ll find the Thai heat much more tolerable.

But if the heat has made you nocturnal like me, you might want to check out our late-night Bangkok food guide to stay fed. Alternatively, Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall is a beautiful spot to camp at.

Cover image adapted from: @kitchenhangarden via Instagram, GameHaus Board Game Cafe via Facebook, Khaosod