Not looking forward to extreme heat

I can't do anything in this hot weather and panic and feel claustrophobic when I look at the weather forecast and see the high temperatures.

But I did find a good solution to my home heating up. I've put silver car windscreen shades on the outside of the windows in a south facing room, tied on with elastic at the top and bottom (which you can do from the inside). This stops the heat from getting in in the first place and has massively reduced the temperature in the room. I also have blankets or bedspreads on the inside on the net curtain rail, plus the blinds. But the outside shades make the biggest difference. 

Then I also have a wet towel around my neck and another on my legs. Then  a fan on wet skin feels cooler. Putting my feet in a bowl of cold water is good too.

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one finding this summer so hard. It just feels surreal! 

Rachel Alice said:

It just feels surreal

What is disturbing is how it gets worse every year and new records are broken.

I would like the politicians to swap places with people in hot flats so they make more empathetic decisions for the future! 

Thank you

Lotus said:

I moved last week

Wishing you much happiness in your new home.

B said:

change how we build

I moved last week, from a 1st floor flat with big windows to a 4th floor one with small windows, and the new one is much cooler. Some of the windows are skylights, which seem to get a breeze blowing through.

Just been looking at a pretty pink sunset. It was lovely when we went to the shops today - 23c, but it's forecast to get very hot again over the next week. I'll stay in my nice new cool flat.

Marianne72 said:

I'd love shutters. Not only the coolness, but seeing light filter through, the act of opening and closing them and the ability to 'become invisible' at will

️

Marianne72 said:

I love my rituals of closing all the curtains of my bungalow and locking doors at night, then the reverse in the morning.

Ohhh - so do I! In my two south-facing rooms upstairs I have long voile curtains in front of the blinds, so I can just draw them on warm (not hot!) nights. They look so nice and give privacy with light.

B said:

Shutters for rooms must be of great benefit

I'd love shutters. Not only the coolness, but seeing light filter through, the act of opening and closing them and the ability to 'become invisible' at will. I love my rituals of closing all the curtains of my bungalow and locking doors at night, then the reverse in the morning.

Rachel Alice said:

hot flats

I think developers need to use less glass.

I've been reading about flats in London with too much glass, no air con (which is complicated by the units being unsightly and them heating up the atmosphere) and people not being able to use rooms (as I can't my conservatory) which unfortunately is open onto the house.

I read about how buildings can be built (and are in continental Europe) to give shade.

So, the key is the change how we build both with regard to flats and houses.

Shutters for rooms must be of great benefit which is common in some of southern Europe.

Rachel Alice said:

hot flats

I think developers need to use less glass.

I've been reading about flats in London with too much glass, no air con (which is complicated by the units being unsightly and them heating up the atmosphere) and people not being able to use rooms (as I can't my conservatory) which unfortunately is open onto the house.

I read about how buildings can be built (and are in continental Europe) to give shade.

So, the key is the change how we build both with regard to flats and houses.

Shutters for rooms must be of great benefit which is common in some of southern Europe.

Thank you

Lotus said:

I moved last week

Wishing you much happiness in your new home.

B said:

change how we build

I moved last week, from a 1st floor flat with big windows to a 4th floor one with small windows, and the new one is much cooler. Some of the windows are skylights, which seem to get a breeze blowing through.

Just been looking at a pretty pink sunset. It was lovely when we went to the shops today - 23c, but it's forecast to get very hot again over the next week. I'll stay in my nice new cool flat.

Marianne72 said:

I'd love shutters. Not only the coolness, but seeing light filter through, the act of opening and closing them and the ability to 'become invisible' at will

️

Marianne72 said:

I love my rituals of closing all the curtains of my bungalow and locking doors at night, then the reverse in the morning.

Ohhh - so do I! In my two south-facing rooms upstairs I have long voile curtains in front of the blinds, so I can just draw them on warm (not hot!) nights. They look so nice and give privacy with light.

B said:

Shutters for rooms must be of great benefit

I'd love shutters. Not only the coolness, but seeing light filter through, the act of opening and closing them and the ability to 'become invisible' at will. I love my rituals of closing all the curtains of my bungalow and locking doors at night, then the reverse in the morning.