Record Temperatures All Around

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

Record Temperatures All Around

Through the bleary eyes of someone who isn’t sleeping well it seems to me that tomorrow is here already. Record temperatures all around the UK, a shortage of water, especially in the southeast of England and excess deaths resulting from high temperatures in May and June estimated as 2700 for England and Wales. I suspect that most of the population are now prepared to accept that the climate crisis is beginning to rear its head and roar. But there are always optimists who suggest we can change tomorrow, mitigate the worst of the predictions and learn to live differently. I am happy to join then, and some of their very sensible ideas seem enjoyable too.

As it seems that our summers are likely to have much higher temperatures than we are accustomed to, I dipped a toe in using AI and asked for a collection of methods used in different parts of the world to keep houses cool during a hot summer

“Around the world, people use a mix of ancient architectural engineering, natural microclimates, and strategic behavioural habits to keep homes cool without relying entirely on modern air conditioning.”

Was the opening sentence of the reply, and I was pleased to see that modern air conditioning was not to confuse the discussion or analysis. But cautious as I realised that the AI had picked up from questions on completely different topics what approach was likely to appeal to me.

However, the huge array of ideas seems to fall in to three broad categories:-

  • Architectural and structural
  • Shading and Insulation and
  • Strategic airflow and evaporative habits

 

A little more research brought up a fourth category, suggestions for actions that would change the slightly wider environment having impact in the neighbourhood more widely, of benefit to friends and neighbours as well as yourself.

While the often-beautiful Mashrabiya and Jali Screens seen in buildings in India and throughout the Islamic world could be used to work their magic here in the UK, I’ll focus on methods that have a closer fit with our UK architecture.

So here is what I take away from what I read about the sort of action that could make a difference in Wenvoe.

There are several bits of easy-to-understand science that underlie the actions that you can take and a little understanding, coupled with getting the different bits of Physics working together rather than against each other seems to be the key. Keep in your head that you are going to be using insulation, radiation, reflection and the effects of evaporation.

You will all have experienced the difference between standing in the shade and stepping out into direct sunshine. Anything wall, floor, furniture, watering can that is in direct sunlight is going to warm up and then release that heat into the air around it. If you can rig up some shade that will help. So when the sun is shining directly through onto the floor or something else inside a window then closing the curtains will help to stop the floor warming and then releasing the heat into the room, keeping the room cooler. You might think that opening the window might help but chances are the air outside will be hotter than the air inside and might only serve to warm indoors. If the hot weather becomes, as is suggested, then shutters or awnings may be a good investment and make sure they are in place before the sun gets on them.

Mastering the art of getting a draft moving through the house is down to observation and experience. Ideally you want downstairs windows/doors on the shady side of the house open and drawing in cooler air while the upstairs ones are open to let the warm air out. If these windows are in full sun they will need to be shaded. This is where the experience comes in, it all depends on air flow through the house. In Europe where they are more accustomed to hot summers shutters that can close on the outside and windows that open without disturbing them are very effective. Shade can also be provided by awnings.

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