Cool moves to have a comfortable home in a heatwave
With the third heatwave in six weeks, government scientists have warned that nine out of ten homes in Britain were not designed to withstand these hot summers.
Climate advisers said that the UK must start planning now to cope with higher temperatures, floods, and droughts which could increasingly threaten the British way of life.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) said that without global action to cut fossil fuel usage, summers in southern England could regularly exceed 40C by 2050 and even reach 45C.
But they say the threat is not only from more intense heatwaves but also from more erratic winter rainfall.
“It is a wake-up call for urgent action now,” said Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox. “This report should end any lingering doubt that climate change is a serious threat to our country.”
Experts have put forward a number of suggestions. They have called on councils to plant more non-native trees to keep streets cool. While trees can reduce urban temperatures by 8C, many native species may die in future hot spells.
They also warned that England could face a shortfall of five billion litres of water a day by 2055. So, the country needs to build more reservoirs and to cut red tape to make it easier for farmers to build more water supplies on their farms.
Another idea is to encourage more buildings to have roof gardens, as they could soak up rainfall from summer storms and help to prevent flash flooding.
Finally, they even suggested moving exams to be sat at cooler times of the year.
“Acting now will require investment, but the cost of delay is far greater,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd, on the University of Keele Science and Innovation Park.
Ron said there were many simple things people could do to keep their home cool.
Close all windows, blinds, and curtains on the sun-facing sides of your home during the day. Open windows and interior doors only in the early morning or overnight to create a cross-breeze when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
Briefly run kitchen and bathroom extractor fans to pull out excess humidity from showering or cooking, but remember to leave a window slightly open to allow replacement air in.
Unplug laptops, TVs, and chargers that aren’t in use, as they continuously generate background heat.
Use air fryers and microwaves, which generate significantly less heat than a traditional cooker.
Run heat-emitting appliances like washing machines and dishwashers overnight when it is cooler.
If it is safe, open your loft hatch or top-floor roof windows to allow trapped hot air to rise and escape from the house.
In the garden, plant climbing vegetation (like ivy or wisteria) or grow leafy plants outside sunny, south-facing windows to create natural, leafy shade.
Consider coating flat roofs or external walls with solar-reflective masonry paint to stop the brickwork and roof tiles from absorbing harsh sunlight.
Finally, think about installing shutters on your windows.
This article raises some important questions, said Ron. Are you worried that your home cannot cope with future hot summers as many of our readers do? What ideas are you doing to make your home and garden more environmentally friendly? Should the Government be doing more to encourage residents with green projects in their home? Send your views to Ron Fox at [email protected]
For more details about how to keep your home cool, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641 or go to contact us here
Caption: A window of opportunity – open your top-floor roof windows to allow trapped hot air to rise and escape from the house. Picture: John Butterworth
