Home cooling measures to beat summer heat in Germany and Austria

External sun‑shading systems such as awning‑type blinds, roller shutters or louvered shutters can block up to 90 percent of solar heat from entering a dwelling, according to the German Window and Façade Association (VFF). Installing these devices on the outside of windows provides a “heat shield” that reduces indoor temperatures and can lessen the need for air‑conditioners, cutting electricity use, CO₂ emissions and heating costs.

Smart‑controlled shading that reacts automatically to sunlight, temperature and weather further halves the number of hours a room exceeds an uncomfortable 26 °C, a recent study shows. The VFF also recommends ventilating rooms at night by opening opposite windows for cross‑ventilation, which flushes stored daytime heat from the building fabric.

Additional low‑cost steps include keeping shutters, blinds or curtains closed during the day, using breathable natural‑fiber bedding, placing a fan near an open window, and briefly cooling bedding or a water bottle with ice before sleep. Sleeping lower to the ground or in tiled‑floor rooms also helps, because warm air rises. These measures are especially relevant as heatwaves become more frequent and energy prices remain high.