As brits, we have become used to months on end of dreary weather filled with grey skies and showers. But every now and again, we’ll suddenly experience glorious sunshine, albeit for a very limited time usually. The sunshine brings rising temperatures which can become uncomfortable for us brits who are so used to the winter months.
We’ve therefore come up with 9 helpful tips to help keep you cool in your home during the heatwave. Better still, many of the tips help to reduce your energy output in your home which is great for the environment, and also helps to save you money!
1. Close your curtains or blinds
When the sun is shining, our first thought may be to open up all the curtains to let the sun into your home. By doing this, however, you will be letting the heat from the sun into your home and effectively turning it into a greenhouse. Try keeping your curtains or blinds closed during the day, especially on south-facing windows that get the most light and use the shade to keep the heat out.
2. Open your windows at night only
To keep your home cool, you need to try and keep the hot air out. You should therefore try to keep windows closed during the day when temperatures are at their highest. Once the temperature drops at night, windows can be opened again to give your home a good airing and let a breeze run through.
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3. Buy a fan
In the summertime when temperatures are particularly high, fans can provide a valuable rest bite to uncomfortable heat. It is important to make sure you are using these as effectively as possible as they can tend to consume a lot of energy, even in standby mode.
As heat rises, set your fan on the floor and point it upwards. You should also make sure that the fan is not obstructed by any objects and has a clear path across the room to bounce cooler air off the wall and back into the room. To be as effective as possible, also try to keep windows and doors closed to maximise the effect of the cooling air from the fan and if using at night, set a timer to be as energy-efficient as you can.
Take a look at this guide on energy efficient fans from Ovo Energy
4. Cook for the summer
If you can’t stand the heat, get out the kitchen! Or at least that’s the saying.
Of course cooking hot meals is going to increase the temperature in your home. Cookers and ovens when in use can let off a lot of heat, so try to think about what meals you want to cook and try swapping them out for things that don’t need to use these appliances. Meals like salads, wraps and sandwiches may help to keep the temperature down, and also have the added benefit of using less energy to prepare, saving you money and being better for the environment.
Check out this article on easy summer dinners from Tasty.
5. Turn off your devices
Electrical appliances like your laptop or gaming consoles let off heat, even when on standby. If you are able to, try switching these devices off when they are not in use which can help to reduce the heat they give off, as well as helps to reduce the energy they consume.
6. Switch out your lights
Like your electrical devices, light bulbs can give off a lot of heat too. Conventional incandescent light bulbs can be quite inefficient at generating light, giving up to 90% of their energy as waste heat. You should therefore try switching these out for low-energy light bulbs which will help to reduce the heat being radiated, as well as save you money.
7. Buy house plants
House plants can help to reduce the heat in your home as they can help bring in moisture. They help to enhance evaporation with areas around green spaces often several degrees lower than other areas. You can also introduce plants to windows and balconies to help promote shading and reduce direct sunlight into your home.
Discover house plants to buy from Ikea.
Keep houseplants on your home to help reduce the temperature
8. Staying cool at night – Use cotton sheets
One of the big challenges, when temperatures rise, is trying to stay cool at night and getting a good night’s sleep. Swapping out fabrics such as satin or silk for lighter fabrics like cotton sheets can help to keep you cool at night. You can also lightly dampen you sheet in cool water to help bring the temperature down, just make sure to put a dry towel underneath to avoid wet bedding.
9. Staying cool at night – Take a cold shower before bed
Try taking a cold shower before you go to bed. This can sometimes trick your body into thinking its cooler and help reduce your body temperature. Just make sure the water is not too cold, and avoid this right before you’ve been exposed to intense heat as sudden changes to body temperature can be dangerous.
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