It’s official, this summer is hot, hot, hot. And we still have February to contend with, which is notorious for its baking heat.
While it’s easy enough to cool ourselves down with a quick dip or a cold shower, it’s hard to know how to keep our houses cool during the height of summer without ending up with a terrifying electricity bill thanks to the air conditioner. So daylighting experts, Solatube, have come up with their top five tips to keep your house cool this summer.
1. Shut the windows and doors early in the morning: It’s natural to want to open doors and windows to let the ‘fresh’ air in, especially first thing in the morning. But the likelihood is the outdoor temperature is going to be warmer than indoors by mid-morning so close the doors and windows and keep that cooler air inside. If the temperature is due to drop overnight, throw your windows open before you go to bed and allow the cooler breeze in.
2. Close your blinds or curtains: According to Family Handyman, up to 30 per cent of unwanted heat comes from your windows so if your windows get direct sun, shut the blinds or curtains to prevent the heat from the sun warming the air inside the house.
3. Cool your roof cavity: Did you know that your home’s roof cavity can reach up to 70 degrees on a hot summer’s day? That’s hot enough to fry an egg! And the worst thing is it’s the leading cause of heating up your home. Cool your roof cavity with a roof ventilation system such as Solatube’s Solar Star.
4. Make sure your ceiling fan is turning the right way: In summer, the cooling wind chill effect from a fan on your skin can make a room feel up to eight degrees colder and reduce air conditioning bills by 40 per cent. However to be effective, you need to ensure your fan is rotating counter-clockwise to push the cool air downwards.
5. Ditch the incandescent lights: If you still have incandescent light bulbs in your home, now’s the time to get rid of them. Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 per cent of their energy in the heat they emit, so replacing them will make a small difference in cooling your home while lowering your electricity bill.
