Cooling

Keeping cool in the hot Queensland summer can be quite a challenge.

The summer heat can often be very humid in coastal areas and very dry in inland areas, so you should tailor your cooling solutions accordingly.

There are many ways that you can keep cool and also save money during summer.

Keeping the heat out

The most effective way of keeping your house cool is to stop as much heat as possible from getting in. Some steps you can take to achieve this are:

• Close your windows and curtains in the morning to keep cool air in and stop hot air from entering. Open your windows in the evening to let cooler air in.
• Choose light coloured curtains and blinds as they reflect heat.
• Choose light coloured interior paints and roof colours.
• Plant trees on the western, northern and eastern sides of your house. Use deciduous trees on the nothern side.
• Install insulation in your roof and walls.
• Use awnings or vegetation to shade windows to prevent heat entry in summer and allow winter heat in.
• Consider double glazing your windows – this helps rooms stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
• Consider high performance or Low-E glass to reduce heat entry from windows that receive direct sunlight.

Taking these steps can reduce the temperature in your house by several degrees, which will reduce your dependence on other cooling techniques on all but the hottest days.

Airconditioners

If you are going to use an airconditioner, then choose one that is best suited to the Queensland climate. Airconditioners are used far more for cooling than heating in Queensland, so select one with a high energy star rating for cooling. The optimum temperature for air conditioners is 24 - 28 degrees, and they work best when you close doors to areas that don’t need to be cooled. Ensure the outside part of your airconditioner is well shaded and well ventilated so it won't have to work so hard. In dry climates, consider an evaporative cooler instead.

The ClimateSmart Retail program can help you with making energy efficient appliance purchases.

Other ways to cool your home

Pedestal and ceiling fans are an energy efficient way of cooling your house. Bear in mind that they cool us only by moving air over our skin, so switch them off if you leave the room.

Be aware that incandescent light bulbs use 95% of their energy in generating heat. Changing to CFLs reduces this significantly. It may not sound like much, but replacing these lights can lower the temperature of a room, especially if the light is on for long periods. Make it a priority.