Heatwaves and extreme temperatures: here are 6 tips to lower the temperature in your home
This is perhaps the first reflex to adopt: protect yourself from the sun. To keep the heat out of your home, the most important thing is to keep it out in the first place. Pulling shutters, blinds, or awnings should be the first reflex as soon as the sun hits the window.
Exterior protection is the most effective, as the sun's rays are captured by window panes. Alternatively, interior protection such as curtains or heat-resistant films are a good solution.
2. Circulate the airAs soon as the outside temperature drops and becomes cooler than inside the home, you should open the windows, especially at night. "Bringing fresh air in helps cool the walls, ceilings and floors, which store heat all day," explains Ademe .
In homes with multiple windows, you need to open several to create a draft. Even better, if the windows are on two floors, this maneuver creates a "chimney effect": cold air enters from the bottom and expels warm air from the top.
But as soon as the outside temperature rises, you should close the windows to keep things as cool as possible. And do this before the thermometer outside rises above the indoor temperature. Then, don't hesitate to get a fan. While it doesn't cool you down, it circulates the air and provides a feeling of increased freshness if you moisten your skin. However, there's no point in running it if no one is in the room.
3. Turn off electronic devicesTelevisions, computers, consoles... We often forget that these electronic devices emit heat when they are in use. It is therefore important to remember to turn them off.
Similarly, it is best to limit the use of the oven during heatwaves, as this could increase the temperature in the home.
Thanks to evapotranspiration, plants help cool the atmosphere. Conversely, concrete and stone store heat during the day and release it in the evening. It is therefore important to create a cool island, especially when you have an outdoor space. A mature tree produces evaporation of 450 liters of water per day, the equivalent of 5 air conditioners running for 20 hours.
Installing plants in pots or pergolas will therefore have the dual advantage of providing shade and benefiting from the coolness indirectly generated by the plants. It is also wise to plant deciduous plants, which fall in winter, in front of windows to protect them from the sun's rays.
A longer, and of course more expensive, solution, home insulation is the one that will provide the most comfort in the long term, by favoring dense insulating materials. Summer and winter, moreover.
Proper roof insulation is a priority, but openings (windows) should of course not be neglected. Finally, reinforcing wall insulation with external formwork is extremely effective.
6. Avoid air conditioningAir conditioners are often very expensive in terms of energy and contribute to heating the outside air. In 2020, air conditioning was responsible for nearly 5% of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the building sector. Therefore, it's a solution that shouldn't be rushed into, recommends Ademe.
However, the organization recommends choosing A+++ rated appliances, which are the highest rated. It is also important to avoid excessive temperature differences, as this can have an impact on health. It is recommended not to exceed a 5 to 7°C difference with the outside temperature, and regulations require that air conditioning not be turned on until the temperature in the home reaches 26°C.
