Best ways to stay cool at home through summer

Australian summers can be brutal, but many of our homes are poorly built to shield the heat. These summer cooling hacks can help make your house more comfortable.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts another summer with hotter than average temperatures for many parts of Australia.

Unfortunately,  many Aussie homes are poorly equipped to block the hot and sticky conditions.

A PowerHousing report found at least 8 million Australian homes were often inefficient, while the Climate Council said poorly made homes were “glorified tents” which are stifling in summer and freezing in winter.

Benefits of cooling our homes in summer

Making energy efficient upgrades to your home can reduce soaring energy bills, improve health and comfort, according to senior project manager at Climateworks Centre Dr Gill Armstrong.

This is supported by Sustainability Victoria’s 2022 study, which found more energy-efficient homes save money on bills as well as having serious health benefits.

According to the study, for every $1 saved in energy bills there is a link to a $10 saving in healthcare costs.

“We get new furniture and all of that, but actually one of the biggest comforts is having your home setup to reject the heat in summer and keep the heat in winter,” Dr Anderson says.

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Easy summer cooling hacks for your home

Dr Armstrong says we can improve the performance of our homes without spending a lot of money.

Block the sun

The first step is to be aware of where the sun hits our homes and block it with blinds or louvres, especially for north and west-facing windows.

Plug the gaps

Extra heat also enters the home through gaps in insulation, so Dr Armstrong recommends checking for missing or damaged insulation, particularly in the roof.

Similarly, she says people should look for any gaps in their homes such as under doors and windows, which may be letting in unnecessary heat.

“I’m really surprised at how almost like cheese graters some people’s homes are, that they don’t associate gaps in their walls with, you know, too much heat coming in or your heat escaping,” Dr Armstrong says.

“Ill-fitting doors, ill-fitting windows, get those gaps sealed up and painted over.”

Create shade

Dr Armstrong says aadding external solar shading or planting deciduous trees can help block the sun in summer.

Look at your windows

While it requires a little bit more of an investment, double-glazed windows can reduce heat loss and heat gain in the home by almost 30 per cent.

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Written By Bryan Hoadley.