With May and June seeing unusually high temperatures across the UK, many households are now looking for practical ways to cool their homes ahead of anticipated summer heatwaves. While the immediate thought might turn to air conditioning, experts are highlighting a range of lower-cost, more environmentally friendly solutions that can significantly reduce indoor temperatures.
Tom Greenhill, an engineer, environmentalist, and author of the Heatwave Toolkit website, emphasises that air conditioning is not a sustainable or widely accessible solution. He argues that even for those who do invest in air conditioning, integrating powerful passive measures, such as effective window shading, will enhance its efficiency. Stuart Dantzic, Vice-President of the British Blind & Shutter Association, echoes this sentiment, drawing a parallel with insulation: "We don't heat a building without insulating it so why are we cooling a building, whether that's with a fan or air conditioning, without shading it first?"
The location of shading is crucial. External shading, fitted on the outside of glass, can reject up to three times more solar heat than internal blinds. For maximum impact, homeowners are advised to start by covering skylights, which receive direct sunlight for the majority of the day. Greenhill shared his own experience, noting that after fitting £80 external awning blinds to his Velux roof window, his loft space became noticeably cooler. Manual versions of these blinds can be a viable DIY project, with Velux offering anti-heat blinds for approximately £110 that promise to reduce indoor temperatures by up to 4C.
For those on a tighter budget or renting, more creative and inexpensive solutions exist. Bojana Bajzelj from Exeter discovered that an IKEA king-size fitted sheet, costing just £5, perfectly covered her ground-floor extension skylights. This method not only blocked solar gain but, being white and translucent, still allowed ample daylight, resulting in a 2C to 4C temperature reduction in her kitchen. Repurposing existing household items like old towels, curtains, or bedsheets can also provide effective, albeit temporary, shading.
Large bifold or patio doors, a popular feature in modern homes, can inadvertently act as heat traps, significantly warming living spaces. Greenhill warns that homes resembling greenhouses will perform like them. Before investing in external blinds or awnings for these expansive glass areas, consider rigging up a 'solar sail' – a sturdy fabric suspended between walls or posts. This DIY-friendly solution offers effective shading without the significant cost of permanent fixtures.