UK households told to leave loft hatch open for next seven days

UK households are being advised to keep their loft hatches open for the next week as the country braces for a heatwave. With temperatures predicted to rise into the low 30s, large swathes of the UK are expected to meet heatwave criteria by week's end.

Staying cool during the summer can be a struggle, particularly when it comes to securing a good night's sleep. At the University of Salford's Energy House 2.0 - the world's largest climate test chamber – scientists are collaborating with Barratt Redrow to examine how homes can endure increasingly hot summers due to climate change.

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"The country is experiencing more frequent and intense weather extremes because of climate change. As part of this, there's an increasing risk of overheating, even during cooler summers, which negatively impacts wellbeing," saidOliver Novakovic from Barratt and David Wilson Homes.

"We're partnering with the University of Salford to trial new technologies alongside simple methods of reducing overheating and improving air quality, so the homes that are built in the next 10 or even 50 years can handle rising temperatures."

To assist homeowners, Oliver has offered seven expert tips for keeping your home cool during a heatwave:

Open your loft hatch

As hot air ascends in your home, it can often become trapped on the second floor, where you might be attempting to sleep.

Opening the loft hatch can help to dissipate heat from your bedroom, aiding in reducing overall temperatures, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Shut curtains and windows

Despite the allure of letting 'fresh air' into your home by opening your windows, it's actually more advantageous to keep them shut during the peak heat of the day. This is particularly true for any south-facing windows as they'll be bathed in sunlight for the majority of the day.

When the mercury is at its highest, draw your curtains to block out the sun, and close the windows to prevent hot air from entering.

As the temperature drops, you can open windows and doors - ideally on opposite sides of the house - to allow a fresh breeze to circulate. The optimal times to do this are early morning or late evening.

Switch off your electronics

Not only could this cut down on energy bills, but it could also help minimise heat accumulation in the house. Devices such as televisions, computers, gaming consoles, and even mobile phone chargers can generate heat, especially when used for prolonged periods.

Large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and ovens all produce heat while in use. Aim to operate these appliances strategically during the cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or evenings.

Change to LED lightbulbs

Traditional, incandescent light bulbs emit 90% of their energy as heat, and while this might not seem significant, it can add to a room's ambient temperature.

One method to reduce the temperature in a room is to turn off any unnecessary lights, or better yet, switch to low-energy LED light bulbs. These emit less heat, helping to keep your room slightly cooler, are more eco-friendly, and save money on bills.

Consider installing a ceiling fan

Although ceiling fans don't directly cool the air, they can be a cheaper and more sustainable way to create a wind chill effect than air conditioning. As air circulates across your skin, a ceiling fan draws away heat, making you feel cooler.

Alternatively, using a freestanding fan costs about 20p-40p for continuous use over a 24-hour period, according to the Energy Saving Trust. There are options on the market now that are quieter, so can be used at night.

As Oliver suggests, you can make your fan work smarter by placing it in front of an open window to encourage the fresh air from outside to be blown throughout the room - if it is cooler outside.

Enhance air quality

With hotter summers predicted in the future, you could invest a bit more in a mechanical ventilation system to improve internal air quality.

While these systems don't directly cool a house in the same way as air conditioning, they can help to reduce overheating and maintain a comfortable temperature in the summer months, are typically quiet and lower carbon.

Make it greener

By cultivating shrubs and plants around your property, you're not only aiding wildlife, but it could also help to cool your home and aid in flood prevention by enhancing water run-off. In addition, introducing indoor plants can provide air-cooling benefits.

Through a process known as transpiration (where water ascends through a plant, from the soil to the leaves and stem), they have the ability to cool the surrounding air. Common houseplants like snake plants, peace lilies, and spider plants are all excellent options for this purpose.