Keep cool at home
As climate change makes our summers hotter we need to ensure we can keep our homes, ourselves and our loved ones cool and safe during heatwaves.
Air conditioners use huge amounts of electricity and most of them contain climate damaging refrigerant gases. As temperatures rise, more people rush out to install air conditioners which lead to more emissions and higher global temperatures pushing us into a vicious cycle. Air conditioners can also be expensive to run.
Luckily there are plenty of ways to keep cool without air conditioning
- Use a fan – these use less electricity and are cheaper to run than an AC unit.
- Wear loose fitting breathable clothing like light coloured cotton or linen.
- Stay hydrated – drink a lot of water as you’ll be sweating more in the heat.
- Keep curtains/blind/shutters closed during the day, especially those in direct sunlight.
- Keep windows closed during the day when the outside air is warmer than the air in your home. Open your windows, if safe to do so, when its cooler in the morning or evening. Opening windows on opposite sides of your home creates a cross breeze which will keep your home cooler.
- Installing reflective window film can block some of the heat from the sun from entering your room.
- Avoid cooking with the oven or hob during the day as these create excess heat.
- Check in on family, friends and neighbours especially those more vulnerable to heat like older people and infants.
- Find a local cool spot – like a park with shady trees, your local library, a museum or a shopping centre with air conditioning.
- Avoid going outside and strenuous exercise during the hottest times of the day (typically 2-4pm)
- Plant trees in your garden if you have the space. Trees cool the area around them and provide shade which can keep your home cooler in the heat.
