WITH those scorching summer days just a matter of weeks away, now is the ideal time to consider purchasing an airconditioning unit or upgrading your existing one.
But aside from airconditioning, you may want to consider implementing other heat-reducing measures.
In doing so, it is imperative to better understand your living space.
The main ways that heat enters the home in summer are through:
- Heat transfer from the external surfaces of the house that are warmed by the external air temperature and the sun;
- The sun shining through windows directly heating the home interior;
- Hot air infiltration through open windows, doors, air vents and gaps around doors and windows;
- Internal heat generated by the people inside and the appliances being used.
It is possible to use ‘passive’ cooling techniques to reduce your home’s heat gain, such as installing insulation, shading windows, ensuring good garden and landscaping design, and using natural ventilation.
Using these techniques can help to keep your home comfortably cool.
Passive cooling techniques are easy to implement at the home building stage, but may be more difficult for existing homes.
House design, layout, construction materials and other factors can all restrict your home’s ability to reduce heat gain sufficiently and as such, airconditioning may be required.
Should you choose to purchase an airconditioner, adopting passive cooling techniques can reduce the size of the airconditioner you require and its associated purchase and running costs.
Information sourced from the Sustainable Energy Development Office.