Here we go! Summer is finally here! The sun sets late and the desire to leave the windows open during the day is great. However, the heat will rush into your home and you will have to use all the tricks to cool your bedroom.
To avoid wasting energy unnecessarily, you can take inspiration from the ancestral insulation methods of Provencal farmhouses. In the past, in the South of France, houses were built with small windows and very thick walls so that the sun did not invade all the rooms, thus raising the temperature. Today, we can do without these methods, because bay windows with super-insulating double glazing have been developed.
Is the heat suffocating you and the humidity drowning you? Before thinking about moving to the North Pole, or a summer residence in your fridge, start by optimizing the thermal balance of your home with these few simple actions.
Building insulation
First of all, good insulation of your roof will allow you to keep a cool ambient temperature in summer. You can also insulate from the outside to preserve thermal inertia. In addition, you must choose double glazing because the technology they contain will insulate you.
If you have time to devote to renovating your home during the long summer days, don’t hesitate to repaint your shutters in white or light tones. These shades help to reflect heat, which prevents the windows from letting in too much hot air. Shutters and Venetian blinds have a great advantage because they can let a little light filter through so as not to find yourself in total darkness.
Vegetation: the secret to your cool nights
Know that vegetation can help you keep your home cool. Choose ampelopsis for your facades, and honeysuckle for your vines. If you want a touch of Provence at home, lavender is extremely resistant to drought and will allow you to insulate yourself from the heat in addition to having a delicate scent on your terrace. The perennial geranium is exceptionally robust and its uninterrupted flowering from June until the frosts will offer you a pretty drooping shape, ideal in clumps, borders, and pots. The panicled gypsophila is a perennial flower with a superb summer flowering and vaporous white. Ideal in clumps in the sun and perfect for your indoor bouquets.
Prevent appliances from giving off heat
It is also crucial to keep your interiors fresh to cook dishes that can be made without household appliances. Indeed, fridges and refrigerators already give off a lot of heat so try not to add to it by using an oven or simmering dishes in your pots. Similarly, vacuuming during a heatwave is an ordeal! Save yourself that by using a dust broom.
In addition to being energy-consuming, your television and computers bring an estimated 1 to 3 degrees of extra heat into your home. Remember not to leave them on standby because they will also consume energy and will only bring you heat.
Create air currents
Above all, all, we can never say it enough: we ventilate at night! Closed during the day, the windows are wide open when night falls and we create drafts; this allows the temperature to drop by 1 to 4.5 degrees! In addition to a well-ventilated interior, it is useful to humidify your interior. To do this, start by spraying a little water on the floor, directly with water or by passing a damp mop. A wet towel placed in front of an open window works just as well. Don’t forget to equip yourself against the inevitable attack of mosquitoes: lemon candles and repellent plugs will be very effective.