Ideally, living in a home designed to deal with the heat is the way to go – unfortunately, that’s not a reality for many Australians. The typical modern Australian home is well insulated and has high airtightness to comply with our national building codes.  This is great for the cooler months of the year, as these elements work together to keep the house warm, but this can have a negative effect in the summer months as retaining heat is the exact opposite of what you want. If your home heats up like an oven, there are a few simple things that you can do.

Ventilation

Homeowners often rely on air conditioning to cool down the house, which is not a viable long-term solution, especially with the price of energy continuing to rise.  A simple counter measure to reduce the internal temperature of a home is to open the windows and doors at night to allow built-up heat to be replaced with cool, fresh air.

Ceiling fans

The humble ceiling fan can help a lot with a hot home by circulating cool air. Why it scores so highly with experts, however, is the cost of energy – it uses a fraction of the electricity of a standard air conditioner. 

Double glazing

Up to 87 percent of the heat gained in your home is thanks to your windows. Apart from exterior shading devices or closing the blinds during the day, an excellent way to reduce heat build-up is installing double glazed windows. There’s a space between the glass of double glazed products that acts as a thermal barrier, making it a fantastic insulator. The best way to management the temperature in your home is through smart design – however, if you live in a home that suffers from heat stress, the above tips will help make it more comfortable.

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Because we are all about comfort at Viridian, we have compiled a list of the best home solutions to keep your home cool and comfortable this summer – and as an added bonus when winter rolls around, you can be sure these products will help to keep you warm as well.

1/ Insulate

By insulating your home, you will be protected from the outside elements including the hot summer sun – this allows for a more comfortable energy efficient home all year round. CSR Bradford Insulation offers a range of ceiling, floor and wall insulation solutions for home owners (including acoustic), designed to adjust to different climates.

2/ Ventilate

With air-conditioning costs being a major financial burden for many Australian homes, a longer-term solution is beneficial. Did you know that efficient ventilation will not only keep your home cooler in summer but works to improve your overall health too? In fact, it removes excess moisture which can be hazardous to one’s health. An adequate ventilation system such as the Odyssey range of home ventilation from CSR Edmonds, is a multi-function system that will achieve maximum comfort for your home.

3/ Get the right roofing material

Roof tiles are another building material that can significantly impact the comfort of your home. They work by absorbing heat, particularly the concrete and terracotta varieties. Monier has a range of tiles specifically designed for the Australian sun that can help you and your family stay comfortable year round.

4/ Walling and flooring

With energy efficiency being at the forefront for most homeowners, a solution that enhances your home’s comfort is ideal. Selecting innovative walling and flooring systems that keep your home cool in summer is a great way to create an energy efficient home. Hebel is a unique masonry product that has superior insulation qualities and can be used for residential walls and floors.

5/ Invest in double glazed windows

Investing in double glazed windows for your home means you will have year round comfort and will eliminate the need for constant air conditioning throughout the summer months. Our LightBridge™ high performance double glazed glass provides superior insulation by limiting the transfer of hot air through windows – making your home cooler in summer.

By investing in long term solutions for your home, you will save money, create a more energy efficient home and most of all live comfortably all year round.

For more information on our LightBridge™ glass go to: /products/energy-efficiency/lightbridge

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