An energy expert has shared how to stay cool at home without breaking the bank
An energy expert has shared some tips for how to stay cool while you are at home during the heatwave, without spiking your energy costs. People trying to keep the temperatures down at home this summer may actually be making things worse by using certain household appliances.
Some devices can produce significant amounts of heat, pushing up indoor temperatures and potentially adding to the cost of keeping cool. Energy specialists at boiler and air conditioning installation firm BOXT have offered some practical advice for staying comfortable at home without relying too heavily on expensive cooling solutions that bump up energy bills. Angus Struthers, managing director at BOXT, explained: “There are plenty of small changes that can help reduce unnecessary energy use during the summer.”
He pointed to one quick change in the bathroom that could take just seconds to do but could help ease the toasty conditions. Mr Struthers said: “Even something as simple as using your extractor fan during a shower can help remove warm, humid air instead of letting it build up inside the home. It’s also worth making the most of natural ventilation by using fans alongside cooler evening air, rather than relying on them in sealed, overheated rooms where they’re simply pushing warm air around.”
People don’t realise
You might be shocked by just how much heat certain everyday devices pump out around the house. The expert explained: “A lot of people don’t realise how much extra heat everyday appliances generate during a heatwave.”
He highlighted four common offenders: “Tumble dryers, dishwashers, ovens and even gaming PCs can all quietly raise indoor temperatures, especially in smaller homes or flats, making it even harder and more expensive to keep your home cool.” If you have decided to splash out on air conditioning or a fan to try and bring temperatures down, Mr Struthers said it’s vital to use them correctly.
He said: “Portable air conditioning units can also be surprisingly costly if they’re too small for the room or aren’t vented properly, as people often end up running them constantly without seeing much difference in temperature. Fans can help you feel cooler, but they don’t actually lower the temperature of a room, so they’re most effective when used alongside proper ventilation once the outside air begins to cool.”
‘One of the cheapest ways’
For those looking to cut their bills further, Mr Struthers has some no-nonsense advice. He says prevention is better than cure when it comes to keeping cool at home.
The expert said: “One of the cheapest ways to keep your home cool is by stopping the heat getting in to begin with. Keeping blinds closed during the hottest part of the day, being smart about when you open your windows and preventing heat from building up indoors can all make a real difference.
“It’s much cheaper and easier to stop a home overheating than it is to cool it once it already feels like an oven. Taking simple steps to keep heat out in the first place can help reduce the amount of energy needed to stay comfortable during a heatwave.”
