Cool your house
To keep your cool this summer, it doesn’t mean you have to crank up the air conditioner. There are a few things you can do to keep down the heat. Without running up a big electricity bill.
Insulate
Insulation installed in your ceiling prevents the hot air in the roof cavity from entering your home. It doesn’t just work during the day either! After your roof has been baking in the hot sun all day, the insulation prevents that heat from radiating into your home at night. If you’re installing insulation yourself, make it tight against the timber of your ceiling structure but don’t compress it as this reduces its effectiveness. Also, keep it around 20 cm from any downlights as this could be a fire risk.
Be window wise
Unless there’s a breeze blowing, keep your windows shut during the heat of the day. In the evening open them up to let cool air blow through your home. Opening up windows on opposite sides of your house will create cross ventilation, cooling everything in between.
Become a fan
Fans are one of the best defences against the summer heat. The moving air they create blows across your skin, evaporating any sweat and helping to keep you cool. Have ceiling fans installed to cool a whole room while pedestal fans provide localised cooling.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
