Been spending months trying to keep warm, waiting for some sun but now your home is too warm? Here are our top-tips to keeping cool this summer.

Preparing for hot weather:

1. Consider installing internal blinds or curtains, or external shutters, roller blinds or awnings are also very effective.
2. If you have a ventilation system in your home, check this is switched on and operating in ‘summer mode’ if it has one.
3. Check that fridges, freezers, and fans are working properly, for example by checking that your food is remaining cold or frozen.
4. Check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
5. If insulating or refurbishing your home, ask installers for advice about reducing overheating. Insulation in a home works in a similar way to a thermal mug or flask: a flask slows the rate that heat escapes or gets into the liquid, keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Insulation in a house works in the same way and will help to keep a home cool in summer and warm in winter.
6. Growing plants outside can provide shade, which may be particularly helpful in front of south-facing windows, while plants inside may help cool the air.

During hot weather:

1. If possible, shade or cover windows – especially sun facing windows during the day
2. Open windows (when it is safe to do so) when the air feels cooler outside, for example at night, and try to get air flowing through the home. Try to use the chimney effect where possible by opening upper windows (where the hot air rises and escapes) and lower windows (to allow cooler air in to replace the warm air) -  this creates a natural airflow
3. Use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35°C, but do not aim the fan directly at your body as this can lead to dehydration. More expensive tower, desktop and pedestal fans aren’t necessarily more efficient or cheaper to run than cheaper models.
4. Check that your heating is turned off.
5. To reduce heat generated in the home, turn off lights and electrical equipment that are not in use and consider cooking at cooler times of the day.
6. Move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping if possible.
7. It may be cooler outside in the shade or in a community or public building (such as  Warm Welcome Spaces, places of worship, community centres, local libraries, or supermarkets) which provide support through the summer as well as winter, so consider a visit as a way of cooling down if you are able to safely travel there without putting yourself at more risk from the heat
8. Consider drying your washing outside if you have access to outdoor space - this can reduce energy that would be used by a tumble drier or reduce condensation from drying washing inside.
9. Make sure you have ice cubes and keep hydrated, drinking plenty of cold water across the day.

 

Where to get help:

Home energy efficiency advice:

BrumEnergy

Health advice during hot weather:

Beat the heat

NHS advice on heat exhaustion and heat stroke

NHS advice on sunscreen and sun safety

Birmingham City Council – dealing with severe weather

Local community spaces, organisations and services:

Warm Welcome Spaces (Help in the summer as well as winter!)

www.bvsc.org/listing/category/directories (Find spaces, organisations and services near you)

 

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-keep-cool-at-home-checklist

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/tips-to-keep-home-cool-this-summer/#:~:text=Top%20tip%3A%20keep%20internal%20doors,being%20used%20in%20standby%20mode.