How to stay cool this summer – Top tips on how to cool your home and save energy
Fans
Fans are a great chap way to cool yourself down. The average fan uses less than 100 watts of energy, so it costs around 3p per hour. This makes fans a low-energy option, especially compared to a typical portable air conditioner. Portable air conditioning can cost around 26–39p per hour, roughly 14–20 times more than a fan.
Use fans more effectively
The way that fans work is they move air around to create a cooling sensation on your skin, but they do not actually lower the temperature of a room.
You can increase the effectiveness of fans by placing a bowl of cold or iced water in front of a fan to create a cooler breeze.
Although these are a great way to cool yourself down, always avoid placing fans directly at babies or vulnerable people as they can struggle to regulate their body temperature, and they can very quickly become too cold.
Low-cost ways to stay cool
If you cannot afford mechanical cooling, small changes can still make a difference.
- Keep heat out by closing curtains or blinds during the day, especially on sun-facing windows.
- Keep windows closed when it is hotter outside than inside.
- Let cool air in by opening windows in the evening or overnight.
- Try to create cross-ventilation if possible.
Turn your hot water bottle into an ice pack
Fill your hot water bottle halfway with water and put it in the freezer a few hours before bed. Once frozen, it’ll emit cold just as it warms you up when you use hot water making it a great way to keep cool on a budget.
Be mindful of your appliance use
In this weather, reduce indoor heat by turning off unused appliances and avoiding cooking during the hottest part of the day. Instead, prepare food that requires minimal cooking.
In fact, try not to use anything that heats up. For example, ovens, irons, cookers, hobs, hair dryers, etc. It sounds obvious, but these things will make rooms feel hotter.
How can I make sure my home stays cool next summer?
Due to climate change making summers hotter, you may want to think ahead on how to better prepare for next summer. Here are a few ways to be prepared for future extreme heat:
Top up your insulation – Insulation slows the rate at which heat escapes, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.
Add solar film to your windows – Adding solar film to your windows will help reduce the heating effect of sunlight shining through the glass.
Consider an air-to-air heat pump – Air-to-air heat pumps are air conditioning units that can heat your home in winter, and some models can also cool it during the summer.
Contact us today
You don’t have to face this alone. Please contact us today if you need help with energy solutions.
Get in touch today by calling:
0300 365 3005
or fill in our online form