Easy upgrades ensure
As temperatures edge higher across the country, home owners may be dreading the prospect of another long, hot summer sweltering indoors, or a scary power bill after blasting the air conditioner.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Identifying the main problem areas of a home and investing even small amounts to address these issues can prevent heat build-up, keep the home cool and reduce the need for air conditioning.
Various cooling strategies are most effective when implemented while building a home or undertaking a major renovation, but homes can still be upgraded in many ways to minimise heat gain.
Understand your building
The key to affordably cooling a home is diagnosing why the building is hot, according to architect and Envirotecture director Andy Marlow.
‘‘Normally, it’s because you have poor shading over the windows,’’ he says. ‘‘The sun getting into the building has a huge impact.’’
Marlow says windows are a major source of heat gain into a home, and protecting these surfaces from direct heat is the upgrade that delivers the most bang for buck for home owners.
‘‘Fundamentally, the aim is to keep the sun off the windows in summer. It’s the single most costeffective thing you could do.’’
Options for shading windows include fixed or retractable awnings, shutters and blinds, but exterior protection is best.
‘‘Blinds are much more effective when they’re outside the glass rather than inside the glass,’’ he says.
‘‘Once the heat passes through the glass, it’s inside your building.’’
Marlow says home owners should also investigate the quality of their windows and