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Anyone living in the UK knows that we have good and bad summers. Despite all the predictions in April and May, you never know what it’ll be like by July!
One thing we do know is that, on average, summers are getting hotter. The top 10 hottest temperatures in the UK since records began were all recorded after 2002.
If it’s a scorcher outside, you’ll want your home to be your haven. But keeping it cool as it hots up outside may need a bit of planning.
Here are our top 10 suggestions to stop your home overheating:
Windows
Get them open at night (or when it’s cooler) and close them during the hottest parts of the day. Also, remember to move shiny objects off your windowsills – like mirrors.
Curtains / blinds
Keep these closed during the day to stop more heat coming in with the sunlight. If you get too humid during the day, open windows that face away from the sun (e.g. north-facing windows).
Fans
Electric fans are probably the first thing we turn to in the heat. But they actually only help if the temperature is below 35 degrees, otherwise they can just push hot air around.
What can help is putting something cold in front of your fan – like a bowl of ice – or putting your fan opposite an open window at night to push the hot air out.
Damp towels
Keeping a damp towel inside the fridge can have a lot of uses! If you put it in front an open window or a fan, it’ll cool the air down.
Extractor fans
If you leave your kitchen / bathroom fans on with your internal doors open, it can help to draw the heat out of your home.
Appliances
Electricity can give off heat. So switch off any lights, TVs, computers, chargers or appliances you’re not using.
Lighting
LED light bulbs give out less heat and can be cheaper to run, so it’s worth switching the next time a bulb blows.
Cooking
If you can, try doing the bulk of your cooking in batches at cooler times of the day.
Clothes
Fabrics like cotton can be cooler and more breathable.
Hot water bottle
Ever considered turning this into an ice pack?! Freeze it during the day and then stash it by your feet when you sleep.
Why does it matter?
Overheating can cause problems for people with medical conditions, young children (5 and under) and people over 65.
Even if you stay comfortable in the heat, it’s worth keeping an eye on children or grandparents who might be more at risk of getting ill.
What about insulation?
Usually, insulation is about keeping your home warm. So, it might sound like a bad thing to have in a heatwave.
But what your insulation does is stop heat passing through your walls, roof, etc. So, if it’s warm outside, insulation can reduce the heat getting into your home.
What we're doing
We've been working to insulate hundreds more homes via our WarmFront project and our Cosy Homes project.
We also fit low-energy LED lighting in our empty homes.
For more energy saving advice, or information about what we're doing to make our homes my sustainable, click here.