We all know how tempting it is to switch up the air conditioning now that the heat is well and truly on in Hong Kong, so we thought we’d share some inspiring ways to keep your home cool whilst minimising your energy usage as the temperatures reach their heights.

 1. Close Your Blinds During The Day

Much unwanted heat comes through windows so a simple tip is to close your blinds or curtains partially or fully to shade your rooms from sunshine. This is particularly the case for south and west facing windows during the day. Sheers are also great for letting the light in but keeping some of the heat out. Investing in black out curtains or blinds in neutral colors can reduce the heat gain in your rooms even further, blocking sunlight with the added benefit of keeping light pollution out at night, therefore aiding good sleep.

2. Dry Clothes Outside

Hang-dry your clothes outside if possible, don’t let your interior get more humid than it already is. If you can’t hang outside then use an energy efficient dryer or hang clothes in an isolated small room with the door closed and turn on the dehumidifier. Also delaying heat-producing chores such as laundry drying to cooler times of the day can help reduce build up of heat.

3. Adapt Your Windows

Change your windows to double-glazed solar control low-e (low emissivity) glass to dramatically reduce heat gain into your home. Alternatively, applying reflective sticker film on existing windows is very effective at reflecting excess sunlight away from glass, it also helps reduce sun glare. Both these measures will help reduce your air-con costs. On very hot and humid days make sure your windows are locked, windows that are closed but not locked can let in a lot of heat.

4. Live With Lots of Plants

Fill your home with houseplants because they help keep your home cool by losing water during transpiration, this cools the air around them and helps regulate the temperature in your home. Good plants for this process are aloe vera, fern and palm. To find out more about plants in your home take a look at our healthy indoor plant blog here.

5. Use Your Fans First

During summer months your ceiling fans should be set to turn counter clockwise. As the blades turn they will force cool air down into the room and pull the heat upwards, creating a cooling breeze effect, this also means you can turn down the air conditioning. If temperatures drop at night this is the time to open the windows and use fans to create cross breeze ventilation and suck cooler air into your bedroom or point a portable fan in front of an open window to force the hot air out. Hanging a wet sheet across an open window can also chill the air as it enters.

6. Change To Summer Bedding

Change your bedding for appropriate summer sheets and comforters; bedding made from natural fibres such as eco bamboo, linen and cotton are breathable, cool and reduce perspiration. Always stay away from synthetic materials. Pillows and comforters filled with natural materials such as wool, silk or cotton regulate temperature and humidity for healthy sleep because they are breathable and have the added benefit of being hypoallergenic. If you’re a really hot sleeper try freezing a filled up hot water bottle to help you cool down at night.

7. Close Internal Doors

By keeping internal doors closed off to rooms you aren’t using during the day it will reduce the area that needs to be cooled with air conditioning, therefore reducing your energy usage. Keep the doors open during the cooler hours of the night to allow cooler air to flow through the home.

8. Switch Off Lights & Gadgets To Beat The Heat

Turn off any unnecessary lights that are giving off heat and try to use natural light as much as possible. Switching out any incandescent bulbs to LED lights will reduce the amount of heat your lighting emits and will also save on energy costs. Reduce heat in the house by switching off and unplugging any appliances that are not in use as ‘standby’ gadgets can give off heat too, this will also reduce energy bills.

9. Use Your Extractors in Bathroom & Kitchen

Don’t forget to switch on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to pull out hot air and humidity created from cooking and showering and make sure they are serviced and working to their maximum. If you have an outdoor space, why not grill outside in the hot summer months.

10. Cool Down Your Roof

Rooftops can absorb huge amounts of heat so stay away from dark floor surfaces if you have an outdoor area and consider heat reflecting paint; also using large umbrellas on rooftops with landscaping can help reduce the heat absorbency. This will reduce the amount of heat drawn into the home below, in turn reducing air conditioning needs and reducing energy costs.

Do you have any other helpful hints to cooling homes and saving energy at the same time? We’d love to hear how you manage this during our long hot summer so please share with us on social media.

For more information, feel free to contact Liquid Interiors, your healthy and eco consious interior design consultants.