Cooling homes for the summer

Whoever made that meme showing the Philippine archipelago solely—and closely—orbiting the sun wasn’t kidding.

Barely a week into April and each day feels hotter than the previous one. We are facing daily heat indices that range from 42 to 45 degrees Celsius. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed this heat indication in the “danger category,” which can cause heat cramps, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. Some schools have even canceled in-person classes and shifted to remote learning because of the extremely hot weather.

Much as we would like to survive this scorching summer by cooling ourselves in the airconditioned pleasure of malls and cafes, we also need to make sure we can stay comfortably in our own homes even under sweltering conditions.

Real estate developer Ovialand Inc. shares some suggestions on how to summer-proof our homes this season. This fast-rising developer of affordable and mid-market housing projects has residential communities in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and Bulacan—areas that are, coincidentally, popular summer destinations for those looking for a quick respite from the hustle and bustle of the metro.

Go light

We are always advised to wear white or any light-colored clothing during summer, because these color choices keep the body cooler and prevent our clothing from absorbing more heat. The same principle applies to paint. Give your home’s walls and roof a fresh coat of white or any light, neutral color paint to deter heat absorption. White also immediately transforms a room to feel more airy and spacious, so that’s a double win.

Insulation sheets

Line the insides of your roofs with thermal insulation sheets. This prevents too much heat gain and helps maintain a cooler abode. If you’ve already installed insulation sheets in the past, check whether these need replacement.

Curtains

Curtains not only make homes pretty and provide privacy, they also protect us from the sun’s harmful rays and keep us cool. Pick ones that are made from lightweight and breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, or bamboo. Blackout curtains are also ideal because they are efficient sunlight and UV ray blockers.

Keep cool with plants

Aside from making our interior spaces a lot livelier, cozier, and more appealing, having greenery in the house helps mitigate UV rays and provides additional insulation. However, if you have pets, know that not all plants are pet-friendly. Some plants that are paw-approved are money tree, areca palm, spider plant, bamboo palm, Boston fern, African violets, peperomia, banana tree, calathea, prayer plant, and parlor palm.

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Fun fan hack

No aircon? No problem. Place a bowl filled with ice in front of an electric fan for an instant cool breeze. The mist from the ice can reduce air temperature by 3 degrees Celsius, too.

Pets

Summer-proofing your home includes ensuring that it’s a safe haven for the four-legged members of the family. At the very least, make sure your pets’ water bowls are at all times filled with clean drinking water. It wouldn’t hurt, too, if you can place a bucket of clean drinking water for stray cats and wandering dogs outside your house.

Source: Inquirer Archives