The exact time to open your windows as UK faces 30C by end of week
With the UK set for another heatwave this week, it might be tempting to just whack on a fan in every room.
However, the energy experts at 100Green also want to ensure that the nation doesn’t needlessly waste on their energy and can make the most out of their potential savings this summer.
Because of this, they’ve shared their 5 top tips for keeping your house cool without wasting energy during the warmer weather, these tips will be ideal for the ongoing heatwave Brits are experiencing.
Their top advice includes:
Why you should actually close your curtains during warm weather
Although blocking the sun out of your home may seem obvious, many of us are guilty of letting the sun stream in through the window – especially after it feels like it’s been missing for so long.
One of the easiest ways to keep your home cool during the warmer weather is to actually keep your blinds or curtains closed, particularly if the window sits on a south or west-facing wall.
When to open your windows
When it’s hot outside, it’s best to avoid opening your windows when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature. In the UK, the average temperature for our homes is around 18°C, so when the weather peaks in the mid-20s in the afternoon, you’ll want to avoid opening your windows until the evening.
A good general rule of thumb is to only open your windows first thing in the morning or evening and throughout the night. This usually means avoiding having them open between about 11 am and 3 pm (the hottest part of the day).
The appliances you should avoid using
When the weather is warm, it’s a good idea to avoid adding to that heat with hot appliances. Kitchen goods such as ovens or tumble dryers will cause your kitchen to warm up – and quickly.
Similarly, TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs, mobile phone chargers, games consoles, stereos, and PCs use small amounts of electricity when they are plugged in but not switched on, but they can generate a lot of heat – so it’s better to turn them off instead of leaving them on standby.
The ideal bedding choices
Our 13-tog duvets may come in handy during the winter months, but they’ll only make you uncomfortable during the warmer weather.
Similarly, you should avoid synthetic bedding and opt for cotton or linen instead. Cotton and linen are known for being breathable materials, so the hot air won’t be as likely to get trapped under your duvet, and you’ll be less likely to get that ‘clammy’ feeling you do with synthetic materials.
How houseplants can help in the heat
When our homes get too hot, plants go through a process called transpiration, which helps them to cool down. This also means that plants will let any excess humidity in our homes evaporate through their leaves, and as it does this, heat will be removed from the air – helping keep a cool temperature.
