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Beat the heatwave – Keep your home cool this summer

Close-up of a thermometer showing high temperatures against a clear blue sky. A blurred figure in the background suggests heat.

With sunshine on the forecast and a bank holiday ahead, the barbecues and paddling pools are coming out of the sheds, ice cream has been added to the shopping lists and you may even be planning a trip to the beach… but have you thought about how you will keep your home cool with temperatures forecasted to reach 30 degrees?


Frequently asked questions about keeping your home cool in summer:


Should I close my curtains and blinds?

Yes, especially those on windows which face the south and west.


Woman adjusts a window shade in a bright room. Text reads, "It is easier to stop heat entering a home than it is to cool it down again."

Should I open my windows? 

It may feel counter-intuitive but keeping windows closed during the day can keep some homes cooler. 



I don’t have curtains or blinds, what can I do to block out the direct sun?

If you don’t have blinds or curtains, you can cover windows with cardboard or thick paper to block out the direct sun which heats up the air inside your home.


How can I protect my home from sun heat?

Block the heat from outside – Shade windows and walls using external coverings.


Yellow and white striped awning under a blue sky, with text: "Limit heat from sunlight hitting your windows." Bright, sunny mood.

Are fans efficient and expensive to use?

Fans are a relatively cheap and energy efficient way to keep air moving and help you feel cooler. The increased airflow over your skin helps your skin sweat more effectively, cooling you down. You can buy expensive ones, but that won’t necessarily help - it's just about getting airflow over your skin and a basic one will do just fine. A cleverly-positioned bowl of ice can help turn a fan into a cold mist machine.


Want to learn more about keeping your home cool in summer?

If you haven't yet had a visit from our HEAT team, book your free in-person home energy visits now for tailored advice on how to keep your home cool this summer. Over the last 2 years 100s of Surrey residents have taken advantage of our summer surveys and loved the help they've received. We’re an independent, fully funded service offering FREE impartial home energy advice from our trained Energy Champions.  The suggestions we make are affordable; we often have free measures we can give to help. We also recommend grants people are likely to be eligible for bigger energy efficiency improvements.




If you've already had a visit, you could still come along to our FREE Interactive workshop to get answers to these questions and others that will help you to keep your home cool this summer.




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