Keeping homes cool

[Orangeinmybluelightcup]

Stating the obvious, it was sweltering last night! Homes in this country were not designed for the heat... Things are only going to get worse, from what I've read climate change is really starting to get a grip right now. Floods in Germany, fires in Siberia, the amazon is a carbon source now, not a sink. This got me wondering, what measures can we retrofit into our homes to help keep them cool, without using yet more energy ie air con?!

Black pit blinds and shutters. Keep windows shut in hot weather during the day and open at night. No carpets. I’m sure there must be others.

Same, keep your windows and curtains closed during the day and open when the temp starts to drop in the evening.

We do that but it's only marginally useful. It's not going to cut it if this sort of weather becomes more standard. On an individual level we cope but on a societal level people die in the heat. I think homes are going to have to change.

The sun comes up on one side of my house, and down on the other, so which ever side the sun is on you put the blinds down/close curtains. On the other side you have the windows wide open.
At lunch time I go round and swap the blinds/curtains.
Keep anything switched off that makes heat if you can, like lights.

And air conditioning would be lovely !

Thinks about things like air source heat pumps that heat and cool without the need for gas boiler, very efficient.

You can buy adhesive window films to reduce solar gain. You need specialist ones for toughened glass in doors or patio windows.

External shading is the key. Internal curtains does very little. We have a brise Soleil, balcony, sliding Louvre screens, skylight covers and use stick on blackout blind on outside of the windows. Almost no direct sun gets in at this time of year. Just reflected so we still can see!

Urgh air source pumps don’t heat. Well they do, but water that only gets to max 55deg is not hot water in my book. Ground source heat pumps don’t seem to be much better going by the complaints from the new housing estate which has them as standard. Technology needs to improve in this case.

I'm looking into heat source pumps too. I thought they worked better than that

Well it might be that particular brand - I don’t know, but they are forever being complained about. Seem to be the the sole topic of conversation- scores higher than dog poo on Facebook!

If you're talking from a design perspective then things like verandahs, external shutters, and built in air conditioning.
But TBH I think the residential building industry here has such sway over govt policy there will be huge resistance and apathy to changing standards.

I love our air source heat pump which does water, heating and cooling. But I love in a super insulated and air tight house with mechanical ventilation. They don’t work as well in older properties with decent retrofitting first.

Having planted gardens rather than cement / tiles / brick / fake grass and we pin damp sheets to the windows at night.

Yup I have been saying this for years. I live in a south facing new build - anyone in same position will know what I am talking about. Its noticeably hotter year on year. I bought a portable air con which I know is bad for the environment but I can't WFH in the heat.

Not building south facing homes. Floor power fans are quite good, of all the fans I have tried. Also small power desk fans directed on your face. Also a wet towel round the neck. Getting into a cold bath a couple of times a day. Blinds.

Air source definitely are cooler then ground source though. The local estate is ground source. This is from the energy saving trust.
Energy efficiency

Ground source heat pumps are more efficient than air source heat pumps due to the fact that heat is transferred through the ground via the movement of water, and water has a greater capacity to hold heat compared to air.3 Oct 2018
energysavingtrust.org.uk › ai...

My parents run their heat pump in aircon mode and find it brilliant for cooling the house (well the 3 rooms they use in their well insulated bungalow). It is great for heating in winter too and very cheap to run. It isn't UK though maybe they have better tech available there? It was not hugely expensive to install 2k euro maybe.

Pin a map of local footpaths to your kitchen wall.

Buy a smaller fridge.

Install a vehicle charging point in your garage.

Plant trees in your garden.

Plants , trees , vines and gardens. Trellises with creepers, shrubs near the house. In hot climates the difference between houses with this and one's without is immense.

A map of local footpaths??

Not building south facing homes. East / West alignment (South 'facing') optimises photo-voltaic systems.

@stabinthedark0

Yes. To incentivise a walk to the shops, the dentist or even school.

My house has no window facing the sun as it's on an angle, this makes it a bit dark but is fantastic in summer as despite being modern it stays cool downstairs.
Upstairs is as hot as hades so I've been sleeping on the sofa.

[quote BG21031]@stabinthedark0

Yes. To incentivise a walk to the shops, the dentist or even school.[/quote]
...and this will make your house cool, which is what the OP is asking?

Eventually, yes.