Installing air conditioning can seem appealing in these extreme temperatures – who hasn't searched for at-home air conditioning this week?! – but is it really the best answer in a climate and energy crisis?
While costs vary for both installation and the running of it – it will depend on your energy tariff as well as how much you need to use it and the size of the room you're trying to cool – there's also the added pressure this demand could put on our energy consumption.
So, with heatwaves becoming increasingly frequent, how can we stay cool without the need for air-con? Below are five alternative energy-saving ideas to consider:
1. Block out sunlight
Close all blinds, curtains (if not too heavyweight and thick) and shutters during the day to keep the sun out to prevent indoor temperatures rising rapidly. Do this early on in the day long before temperatures peak. You may also wish to consider using a reflective surface at windows, such as a reflective window film (try Purlfrost), external foil screens or budget-friendly tin foil, to bounce the heat away.
Just be sure to check compatibility as applying highly reflective films to certain types of glass may cause the glass to crack due to "thermal stress."
2. Plant trees for shade
Prepare for warmer days (and years) to come by planting trees to shade your home. Take note during this heatwave of which side(s) of your home and the windows are in the strongest sun, ready to plant with precision in autumn. Choose deciduous trees over evergreens, which will be bushy in summer but sparse in winter to keep the light levels up as much as possible during the darker months.
3. Use natural ventilation
Strategically cool your home as temperatures drop late into the evening, overnight or early in the morning, when it becomes cooler outdoors than in. While you seal everything shut during the day, these are the times to fling open the window (and doors when awake), especially those upstairs, to flush out the hot air and let in the cool air. Opening windows on the opposite sides of the house will help to create a cross-breeze to cool down all rooms and aid a better night's sleep.
4. Keep windows light in colour
When choosing window dressings, it's important to think beyond how they look, but how they will also respond to hot weather. Light tones will reflect heat whereas dark colours will absorb it and radiate it directly into the room. Flexibility is key, for example, building a foundation of white wooden venetian blinds or shutters behind blackout curtains which can easily be taken down or switched for lighter weight curtains in the warmer months. This allows you to easily adapt to our ever-changing climate, keeping warm air out in the summer and warm air in during the winter.
5. Install an awning
According to JP Knight & Sons: "The most effective way to keep your home cool during a heatwave is to stop the heat from getting in at all."
One of the ways to do this, especially if you have a south-facing garden or a large area of glazing leading out (French doors, bi-fold doors etc), is to shade it with an awning. This will stop the heat from reaching the glass preventing your glazed extension or kitchen becoming a greenhouse.
"Cooling a room that has already overheated is far more difficult than preventing the build-up of heat in the first place. Blinds, shutters and awnings all work best when used proactively. Close them before the sun reaches that side of the house, rather than after the room is already stuffy." continues JP Knight & Sons.
If you're considering this option, don't forget to check out the Country Living awnings collection at Hillarys.
Cooling summer essentials
Comfortably Cool 1 Tog Duvet
ChillPill 3-in-1 Fan, Mist & InstaChill System
DREO 7500 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Emma Premium Pillow
Alaina is the Style & Interiors Editor at Country Living (previously Home & Crafts Editor). Her creative eye stretches over decorating, style shoots, seasonal inspiration and craft, as well as event styling and licensing creatives. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design and started her 17 year career at Hearst on House Beautiful before discovering a love for nature, the country home and bird watching. Alaina also works on Modern Rustic where she champions talented makers, and Vintage Home. Alaina has held several craft workshops and talks and styled a Country Living with Raymond Blanc's at Le Manoir.
