Sweltering in the heat? Follow these top tips for keeping your cool indoors
With temperatures even in the generally chillier parts of the country reaching above 20c this week, keeping cool when you can longer sit outdoors has moved up homeowners’ priority lists.
Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at money.co.uk said: “As temperatures start to rise, most UK households will rejoice, but for those that struggle with the heat, or with young families, it can soon become unbearable.
“If this summer is anything like last year, then it’s important that everyone tries cost-effective and simple ways to keep their homes cool.
“Luckily there are a number of low-cost hot weather tips we can use to make the heat more bearable, such as placing a bowl of ice underneath a fan.
“These tips will keep the house cool this summer and are also kind to the environment.”
Here are money.co.uk’s tips on keeping your home cool in the summer:
Change up your bed linen
Switching up your bed linen can dramatically help you have a cooler night’s sleep. Some bed sheet materials such as cotton and bamboo are well-known for being lightweight and breathable – perfect for those who get hot in the night.
Bring nature inside
Bringing nature inside is a great way to not only cleanse the air in your house but also to help circulate cooler air. This works when certain plants such as a weeping fig, snake plant, rubber plant, and Chinese evergreen to name a few, absorb warm air. Through the transpiration process, they release oxygen and cool moisture as a byproduct into the room.
Don’t forget the garden
As well as bringing the greenery inside your house, remember that plants and trees can have a similar effect on your garden. Increasing the amount of grass in your garden will naturally be cooler than decking, paving, and concrete due to it having a lower solar reflectance. Choosing deciduous trees is also great for shading certain areas in the summer.
Keep the blinds closed
As simple as this may sound, keeping your blinds and curtains closed throughout the day deflects the sun’s powerful rays from heating your house. Open them up again in the evening to allow cooler air to fill the room before going to bed.
Close your doors
Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels
Closing doors in rooms that you’re not using can help trap cooler air in the rooms. If you don’t shut off certain areas of your house, every room will end up at a similar temperature.
Blackout curtains
Blackout curtains help eradicate the sunlight from the windows and are especially effective on north or western facing windows. Opt for a light or neutral colour to keep the room bright if you’re closing them throughout the day.
Switch your bulbs
Switch your incandescent bulbs in your light fittings to LED light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs waste around 90% of their energy by emitting heat.
Cook outside
Photo by ArtHouse Studio from Pexels
Why not make the most of that BBQ grill in your garden? When your kitchen has accumulated heat throughout the day the last thing you want to do is turn the oven on for dinner and make the house even warmer.
Ice fan
Place a bowl of ice underneath your fan to create a cold and refreshing breeze that circulates your room. It’s a cheap and efficient air conditioning replacement.
Insulate your loft
Insulating your home will keep it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and reduce your energy bills.
