For many people, air-conditioning is not an option for whatever reason - price, health or environmental preference. Fans can make a big difference if you know how to use them as a group and circulate the air. Staging fansHaving a few fans around the house will keep the air circulating. The key to maximising fans is knowing how to stage them. Cool air tends to be low while hot air rises. A fan circulating air from the outside on the lowest point of your home will be a cooler fan. Draw this air in and direct the hot air upward and outward through the top-most window in your house. Fans in the evening may be all you needYou can cool the whole house down by circulating cool, night air throughout the house. This will also serve to cool surfaces such as tiles and help keep the house cool throughout the day. Manage the circulation from bottom to topGet the hot air up and out. Draw from the lowest point in the house and send the air through a window or vent at the top of the house. Fan typesThere are box fans, window fans, and circulating fans. If it's really hot and you're depending on fans - buy the lot. They're cheaper than air-conditioning and you should buy the right fan to push the air the way you need it to. Remember the Whirly Bird FanIf you don't have a whirly bird or two on your roof, invest in one. Whirly birds suck the hot air out of your ceiling cavity and will reduce your home temperature by a degree or two.