From around the world people flock to Melbourne to enjoy the warm weather. That’s great for the beach where you can cool down in the ocean, but how do you keep high temperatures from spoiling the day when you want to relax at home? Should you use sheer curtains Melbourne experts often advise homeowners on? Have you tried using your garden to change your interior atmosphere?
Below we’ll cover a few effective ways to cool down your home this summer season. And yes, you can get it right in an eco-friendly way without using the expensive AC.
Review All Window Coverings
A lot of your interior atmosphere has to do with how light and the sun affect the space.
So, how can you manage it better?
Although having natural light pouring into your lounge creates a lovely, cheerful ambience, this light should be managed better on hot days. Get it right by using window coverings like plantation shutters or using curtains of a different fabric than your 20-year-old drapes that keep rooms stuffy.
For one thing, pick lighter colours, so they don’t absorb as much heat. Then, even a sheer curtain can insulate the room against immense heat and with innovative shutter designs you can control exactly how much light enters the room.
When talking to a shutters and blinds expert, discuss your preferences, the layout of the home and your seasonal preferences. Together you can identify the right type of window covering for each room’s use.
Expert tip: consider motorised blinds to make the task of managing light conditions an effortless one!
Create Some Shade
Apart from shutters and curtains, use your trees and plants to manage light levels. For rooms that seem cold, do some tree trimming in front of their windows. However, in summer you may want to allow those trees to grow a bit wild and block off the sun. It’s even worth adding new trees if you know your home gets really hot each summer.
Some plants, like Hibiscus Rosasinensis, are even known for their ability to absorb heat more efficiently than others.
Need a solution for the coming summer? The following trees grow faster than many others, so you can create a small forest in front of your windows fairly quickly:
- Magnolia
- Tahitian Lime trees
- The Forest Pansy or Cercis
- Corymbia hybrids, such as the Dwarf Flowering Gum
Close and Open Doors and Windows on a Schedule
This tip does take a bit of organisation and effort, but it makes a huge difference if you keep windows and doors closed at certain times of the day. For example, keep them closed at the warmest part of the day, so the hot air stays outside. However, once temperatures drop later in the day, open up a window so rooms can benefit from the fresh, cooler air.
Expert tip: Open more than one window at a time for this strategy, so you create efficient airflow.
It can of course be refreshing to sleep with a few windows open, but remember to close them again in the morning before the heat sets in.
If your home has multiple rooms and you don’t really use all of them daily, close the doors leading to those spaces. In this way you contain the cooler air where you move around and you won’t be affected by the air that’s been warmed up through those rooms’ windows.
Turn it All Off
You may not believe it, but your interior temperatures may feel worse than is necessary because of your kitchen appliances!
Any appliance—even an energy efficient one—will create some heat when it’s turned on or on standby. With most modern homes having a variety of appliances and modern machines for entertainment, food preparation and personal care, there’s a lot of ‘stuff’ in your home that’s generating heat. Put them all together and there’s a considerable amount of warmth emanating from your favourite gadgets.
So, turn them off!
Get into the habit of switching everything off after dinner preparation and turn appliances off as you move through the house tidying up at the end of the day.
It may be minor, but it will still make a difference! As a bonus, your summer home environment becomes more eco-friendly by using less electricity.
Use a Fan in a Smart Way
One appliance you can keep on—even if you try to avoid using the expensive HVAC system—is a normal house fan. These items use much less electricity than an air-conditioning unit but can be efficient if used correctly.
To help cool down a room faster, place a bowl with some ice cubes in front of the fan. Hanging a piece of fabric that’s been moistened near the fan also helps to not only create a draft in the room, but actively lower the temperature.
Invest in Insulation
If you do have the capital, consider making permanent changes to your roof and add some insulation. From simply making sure all fixtures like downlights are properly sealed, to adding a layer of roof insulation, it can make a huge difference in how your summer feels this year.
Final Thoughts
Can you enjoy a Melbourne summer even more than in the past? Yes!
Enjoy the heat, but also some refreshing cool air, simply by managing your home a little different than last summer. If you have more tips for us, please do share!
