#heatwave toolkit

There's a strong possibility of more intense heatwaves across Europe and the UK this July. If you're looking for temporary passive cooling solutions during this period, the Heatwave Toolkit (Run by a chartered engineer) is a useful source of ideas.

"This website explores highly-effective, low-effort, low-cost, and rapidly-deployable solutions to keep homes cool during a UK heatwave. Most of these solutions are also landlord-friendly!"

Coverings for windows are an excellent idea, but the approach matters, and affects how powerful their cooling effect will be.

Internal coverings for windows are a good start to reduce heat in rooms, however they aren't perfect and can still let heat build up inside. Internal blinds, or coverings, can be used for this. Crucially, especially for double glazed windows, avoid applying internal films or foil directly on to the internal window surface. This can cause thermal shock on the glass and potentially lead to cracking!

The best solution, by far, is external coverings, such as shutters or even materials such as towels, external foil-bubble wraps or sheets. Very important to note that these should be secured safely to prevent them from blowing away in wind or falling.

Looking for more advice? The Heatwave Toolkit is a great basic resource with general, public friendly, tips for passive cooling for your house. Take a look at their website and definitely consider giving them a tip to help hosting costs if you've found their advice useful!