Keeping your home cool in the summer
The article emphasizes that preparing for heatwaves starts with simple, low-cost strategies that reduce heat before relying on air conditioning. Talina Edwards of Envirotecture highlights passive cooling as the first line of defense, focusing on blocking summer sun, improving airflow and using the cooler parts of the home. Practical steps include external shading, cross and night-time ventilation, avoiding heat-generating activities like oven cooking, and staying hydrated. Personal comfort measures, such as cool showers, damp cloths and adjusting sleeping locations, can also make a noticeable difference during extreme heat.
Beyond immediate tactics, the piece encourages longer-term home improvements and broader climate awareness. Upgrading insulation, sealing air leaks, choosing climate-appropriate glazing and planting shade-providing vegetation all help homes stay cooler naturally. When active cooling is needed, energy-efficient fans, reverse-cycle air conditioners and renewable energy sources are recommended to limit emissions. The article also places individual actions in a wider context, urging people to reduce carbon output, avoid stressing the power grid during peak heat and help counter urban heat by increasing greenery and minimizing heat-absorbing surfaces.
