With the UK experiencing a prolonged heatwave, many households are struggling to keep their homes comfortable. Most British properties are designed to retain heat, turning them into virtual furnaces in summer. However, BBC science journalist Caroline Steel has shared seven straightforward, physics-backed tips to help lower indoor temperatures.
1. Shut Your Windows
Contrary to instinct, keeping windows closed during the hottest part of the day helps. Steel explained: "If it's hotter outside than it is inside, keeping your window shut traps the cool air in and keeps the hot air out."
2. Draw Your Blinds and Curtains
Blocking sunlight prevents light from being absorbed by objects in your home, which would then emit infrared radiation as heat. Steel noted that this simple step reduces heat gain significantly.
3. Turn Off Electronic Devices
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy used by electronics like televisions and computers is converted into heat. Switching off unused devices helps keep your home cooler.
4. Use a Fan Correctly
A fan works by blowing warm air away from your skin and aiding sweat evaporation. However, Steel warned: "It doesn't work if the air temperature is higher than your body temperature."
5. Open Windows in the Evening
When outdoor air becomes cooler than indoor air, it's time to open windows. Steel said: "For me, that's around 7pm at the moment."
6. Place a Fan Facing Out of a Window
Positioning a fan on the windowsill pointing outward sucks hot air out of the room and pulls in cooler air from outside. This only works when it's hotter inside than outside.
7. Make Hot Items Wet
As water evaporates, it takes heat from the material it rests on. Steel demonstrated this by wetting surfaces to cool them down.
Steel concluded: "Physics is really your friend right now, so good luck out there." Viewers added their own tips, such as taking cold showers or wetting hair to mimic air conditioning. Steel endorsed these, noting she has become a "three showers a day person" during the heatwave.
