Top Tips For Keeping Your Home Cool in Summer
As summer temperatures rise, keeping your house comfortable can be a challenge. However, high-performance homes built with advanced systems like Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) blocks naturally maintain stable indoor temperatures by blocking out excessive external heat.
Whether you are looking to optimise an existing property or planning a future net-zero build, our experts share some of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your home cool during warm weather.
Block Out Direct Sunlight
Windows are the primary source of unwanted solar heat gain in a house. Keep blinds, shutters, or heavy curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day- especially on south and west facing windows to stop the sun from baking your living spaces.
Strategic Ventilation and Night Purging
Take advantage of cooler evening temperatures. Once the sun goes down and the outdoor air drops, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze. This flushes out the trapped daytime heat, allowing your home to cool down naturally before morning.
Reconsider Heat-Generating Appliances
Big appliances like ovens, clothes dryers, and incandescent or halogen light bulbs emit a surprising amount of indoor heat. Try to minimise using your main oven during peak heat waves - opt for outdoor grilling or cooler meals instead and switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs that stay cool to the touch.
Manage Loft and Roof Spaces
Heat rises, and an uninsulated or poorly ventilated attic can act like a giant radiator, slowly bleeding heat down into the rest of the house. Ensuring proper roof space ventilation and insulation stops heat from getting trapped right above your ceiling.
Check in on Vulnerable Neighbors and Relatives
Extreme summer heat can be just as dangerous as winter cold spells, particularly for the elderly, infants, or those with underlying health conditions.
Make sure their living space is well-ventilated and set up with portable fans to maintain air circulation.
Check whether they have lightweight, breathable clothing (such as loose cotton or linen) to prevent overheating.
Ensure they stay hydrated and have easy access to cool drinks throughout the day.