The UK is not known for its tropical weather, but seasonal heat waves are increasingly common now and we just are not equipped well enough to handle these extreme conditions. Here are some environmentally friendly tips on how to beat the heat this summer.

Keep your house cool

It is especially important to protect your house during peak heat hours. Open your windows (and terrace doors) early in the morning, when the temperature is low and cool, to make sure the house is properly ventilated. But close your curtains, blinds, and windows when the sun is at its highest – usually between 12pm and 3pm – to keep the heat outside of the house.

You can also use a fan during the hottest hours, when the windows are kept closed. Ceiling fans are better at promoting air circulation and they usually have a low energy consumption. If you want to speed up the process, it is a great idea to fill a bowl with water and a few ice cubes. Placing it in front of the fan will give you AC on a budget.

Turn the lights off and invest in energy-saving lightbulbs

Easy and effortless! The sun sets around 21:30 during summer, so it is a clever idea to keep the lights off whenever possible. 

The type of lightbulb you choose can also have an enormous impact on the use of energy and its heat-generating abilities. Consider LED lightbulbs your best environmentally friendly option.

Turn off unused appliances

Electric appliances are a huge heat source, and it is an immense energy waste to leave them on standby. Turning them off when you are not using them will not only help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint, but it will also reduce your bills. 

You can save up to 3.1kWh of energy per year just by turning one monitor off directly at the end of every workday. The average kWh in the UK is 21p, so that would be around £65 at the end of the year.

Houseplants are good for your health, as they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, eliminating harmful toxins from the air. Some popular indoor plants can also act as natural coolants. According to NASA’s Earth Science Study, plants release extra moisture from their leaves back into the air when the environment warms up.

So, consider purchasing a ficus, aloe vera, a snake plant, a spider plant, or a peace lily this summer.

Avoid using the oven as much as possible

Plain and simple – using the oven will increase your house’s temperature, generating not only heat but also steam.

Choose other healthy meals that do not need cooking whenever you can, like fresh salads or even seasonal fruits like watermelon or peaches. Just make sure to avoid them at night, as the fructose will impede your sleep.

Mop your terrace floor

Re-using dish water to mop your terrace will help you cool off the temperature of the house without any unnecessary wastage. This process is called evaporative cooling.

Keep yourself hydrated

The Eatwell Guide says we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water is a healthy and cheap choice to quelching your thirst and keeping yourself hydrated.