Keep the house cool with outside shading and night air, not airco
Sun through windows causes most overheating; screens or shutters on the outside of south and west windows work far better than blinds inside, and airing at night cools the house down.
Do it yourself
Sources checked on .
A room overheats when it stays above 25 °C for more than an hour in summer. Well-insulated, airtight homes heat up faster, because the heat that comes in stays in. Insulation still helps in summer, but it needs shading and good airing to go with it.
Most of the heat comes in as sunlight through windows. Screens or roller shutters on the outside work best, especially on windows facing south or west. Blinds or curtains inside help far less, because the heat is already through the glass.
Open windows when it is cooler outside than inside, usually at night, and keep them closed while it is hotter outside. Airco can push up your electricity bill sharply, so try shading and night air first.
Details
| Impact | Not rated · The cited sources don't give a size for this saving, so we don't guess. How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| Estimated saving | Not quantified; the Flemish government warns that airco can raise the electricity bill sharply in summer. (confidence: low) |
| Who acts | You (owner) |
| Needs landlord's agreement | No |
| Type | Action |
| Constant or subject to change | Constant · Good practice that barely changes with new laws, prices or services. |
Do this together with
Sources
- Vermijden van oververhitting (in Dutch) · Woningpas (Vlaamse overheid) (official source) · checked on
- Oververhitting in gebouwen tegengaan (in Dutch) · Buildwise (research) · checked on
- Is de plaatsing van binnenzonneweringen voor de beglazing voldoende om het risico op oververhitting tegen te gaan? (in Dutch) · Buildwise (research) · checked on