Long term house preps for hotter summers

[HungryHungryHippopotamus]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but the temperatures today have brought it back to the front of my mind...

As climate change happens, we'll get more weather extremes including more hot hots. Are you doing anything to prep your home for it?

I live in a 1950s terraced house, and for the first 10 years of living here, I did everything possible to keep it warm - extra loft insulation, triple glazed windows etc. All of which cut winter heating bills, great! But now, facing more hot temperatures its a bit inconvenient.

I've added sunshades to the worst windows, put more water butts in the garden and I'm considering more tiled floors inside. Is there anything else?

The insulation will keep the heat out as well as keeping it in so it was still a good idea.
Shutters could be useful?

This year I have Aircon for the first time. It’s blissful and the cat thinks so too.

I’m thinking about air con but I suspect my house is going to be very expensive.

Solar panels? Our electricity bill will be pennies for the next while.

I want inward opening windows so I can fit external shutters. Can't currently justify the cost but it seems the obvious change to housing stock in the UK.

Aircon on solar?

We've stone floors and our downstairs stays lovely and cool in the summer - we do need good slippers in the winter though!

Also, thinking about insulation - you may find opening your loft hatch allows heat to rise out of the house if your insulation is proving too effective!

We put an awning on the back of the house to create shade but it also makes the ground floor significantly cooler. We also have double layers of blinds and curtains. Each layer reduces the heat.

I have internal shutters. They help a bit, especially if there is a breeze as you can angle them to encourage hot air to go out and cold air in.
I have brought a portable (22kg is portable?) air conditioner. It's helping, flat is currently 22.6 degrees, outside is 30.3. A split air conditioning system would be better and can get combined cooling/heating version, so may be a long term solution but costly.

Window shades I think would be good given how the sun hits windows on one side of flat in morning and other side in afternoon/evening. However I doubt the flats management company would approve that, and given visibility I would wonder if planning permission would be needed (flat is on a hilltop, with windows visible from road).

I agree with aircon for the really hot days. But it makes me dread leaving the house, I've been in the same room since lunchtime because it's the only room that's bearable!
We've got curtains or blinds on all the windows , and an extra shade on the velux window, like thisbut the loft room is still way too hot.
I'm going to look into awnings,maybe something like this, or of course the roller fabric awnings would work well at the back of the house .

We got inward opening windows on one side of our house with this line of thinking- I grew up in Germany where roller shutters are ubiquitous. However what I forgot about is that the soffits on our house are directly above where the windows end with no gap so we are going to have to get the traditional wooden side hinged type instead. Just flagging in case useful to anyone!

Aircon. Have it properly fitted. You may find it actually cuts your winter heating bills too. Many aircon units heat as well and are zero vat rated because they're considered enviromentally friendly heating.

What really helps is a big fan in the ceiling going up to an u finished loft with air vents to the outside. You turn it on in the evening to push the hot air out and have the cool night sur rush in through open windows downstairs.

I wanted to fit one on our house, but all the builders looked at me funny. Doesn’t exist here.

Next thought was to buy one of these to do an sur exchange in the evening, but I don’t think it is compatible with UK electrics.

https://amzn.eu/d/06RIzUzY

So split system aircon units in the bedrooms is the next step.

Air con units for the top floor, we have it downstairs and it's so lovely for those few very hot days.
Extra water pistols and BBQ supplies!
The freezer with ice dispenser is used so much so that's been a real win
And an ice cream maker, the kids love it, also the ice lol lolly moulds that we use with fruit and yoghurt.

My friend has some sort of heat pump system so has air con in the heat and warm air in the cold - it’s a new build only bought a couple of months ago and guessing part of the specification?
Shes loving it today!!!

I am sure i saw something on tv which said that planting things to grow up the outside of your house helps to keep it cooler. Also i guess any shade from trees would help.

AC is 3k per room, it's well worth it especially if you get a unit that can heat that room in the winter. I have 2 LG units, could not live here without them.

I have tall plants in pots to shade the conservatory on the south facing side. We have curtains closed to keep the sun out, and I have some external curtains that I hang over the conservatory windows and soak with water.

We also have a big pop-up pool, and some lovely garden furniture, courtesy of FB market place.

Plant a fruit tree in the garden. If you have space a cherry tree - will reach two stories high in five years. Look at conserving water for the garden.

Need building work and general upgrades to my mum's house. I plan to install external shutters at the back. (S and W facing rooms)
Hoping for solar panels and batteries and possibly heat pump.

Plan to plant a tree in the front yard to shade the pavement mainly.

Self closing air bricks at ground level.

Thick curtains and blinds.

Awnings if not shutters.

Very similar to us 👍

We have a full width veranda across the back of the house that reduces the amount of sun that can reach the downstairs windows.
Every window* has double coverings whether that be shutter blinds & curtains / roman blinds. The french doors & side windows have insulated Perfect Fit blinds & curtains and even the front door (rarely used) has thick curtains across the width of the hall. All curtains & fabric blinds are heavy material with a blackout lining.
During weather like we are currently experiencing every curtain & blind is closed which really keeps the heat out.

*Bathrooms have wide slat Venetian blinds only.

Shade at doors would help - so an overhanging porch at the front or a pergola with greenery (especially if it does die back in winter to let sun through) at the back…helps have the air at the doors slightly cooler for when they are inevitably opened.