Heat wave home cooling guidance

In mid‑July, experts warned homeowners to keep windows shut during the hottest part of the day and to ventilate only in the early morning or late evening when outdoor air is cooler. They recommended drawing curtains or blinds on sun‑exposed windows, using slight openings in blinds for airflow, limiting heat‑producing appliances, and applying reflective foil on the exterior of windows to reduce solar gain.

A week later, advice shifted toward personalising indoor temperature control. Energy specialists noted that a single thermostat setting (e.g., 78 °F) may not suit every household during extreme heat, because of differences in insulation, size, sun exposure, and occupants’ health. They urged homeowners to adjust thermostats to their specific needs while also closing blinds, using ceiling fans, keeping interior doors open for airflow, and minimizing indoor heat sources such as ovens.

More recent guidance expands on window‑treatment options and passive shading. In Phoenix, residents are installing solar shades, cellular shades, shutters and blinds to cut glare, ultraviolet exposure and cooling‑system load. In the United Kingdom, rising temperatures are disrupting sleep, prompting advice to keep curtains closed, apply external shading, and ventilate rooms only when outdoor air is cooler. Experts also stress timing the lowering of shutters or blinds to a building’s orientation—early‑morning shading for east‑facing rooms and mid‑day shading for south‑facing windows—and using external devices such as awnings or screens to block solar radiation before it enters. For terraces, planting dense‑leaf vines, trees or large‑leaf shrubs provides shade and evaporative cooling, lowering the micro‑climate and extending comfortable outdoor use during heat waves.