Spitting Into the Wind

If your live in an area like me and have been experiencing extreme heat this summer, here's a list of the top 9 things you can do around your home to keep it cool.

1. Reflect heat away from your home. Dark colours absorb 70 to 90 per cent of the radiant energy from the sun resulting in heat gain. In contrast, light colours reflect more light and heat away. If you want to help keep your home cool, make sure the roof is a light colour. Better still - use corrugated iron - a reflective roof with aluminium foil backing can reduce heat gain by 25 per cent.

2. Lighten walls. White or light-coloured exteriors absorb less heat than dark walls.

3. Improve window efficiency. Around 40 per cent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Reflective window coatings, double glazing or thick curtains can reduce this impact considerably, particularly if you have large areas of glass. As the day cools, open the windows and curtains again to allow the evening breezes to flow through the house.

4. Insulate. In addition to protecting your house during the winter, insulating, weather-stripping and caulking help protect it against summer heat. One of the most important places to insulate is the roof, because it attracts so much heat.

5. Shade the house with trees. Shading your house can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 20 degrees.

6. Landscape with shade in mind - use native plants that can survive with little care or deciduous trees that lose leaves in the winter and therefore allow more light in. Vines can provide shading and cooling.

7. Use exterior shading devices. Exterior shades are effective because they block sunlight before it enters a window. A properly installed awning, for example, can reduce heat gain up to 65 per cent and of course a light-coloured awning will reflect sunlight. Louvres, shutters, and rolling shutters are also options for outdoors.

8. Reduce heat-generating appliances. Ovens, dishwashers, dryers, and other appliances generate a lot of heat. Try to only use them in the morning or late evening.

9. Install fans. Ceiling fans can make a room feel as much as 4 degrees cooler.