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How to keep your house cool?
Seal
out the heat for comfort
Take control of your home’s environment
In simple terms, taking control of heat transfer is all about
smoothing out the temperature fluctuation that occurs on a hot
day by slowing the rate at which a home heats up inside during
the day and speeding up its cooling down rate in the late afternoon
and evening.

Soothing out the daily temperature fluctuation
CSR Coolbatts Insulation – the best
first step
In the same way that an insulated ice-box keeps cold inside, quality
CSR Coolbatts with guaranteed thermal resistance (R-value) will
dramatically slow heat transfer in your home.
Taming Mother Nature
Direct Sun (radiation)
Reducing the impact of sunlight coming into your home will have
a dramatic effect on internal temperatures.
Windows
North, east and west facing windows are the ones to watch.
• External shutters provide the best protection as they
stop the hot sun before it can heat your window glass.
• Venetians, holland and vertical blinds fit neatly inside
the window cavity and help to reflect direct sunlight.
• Consider reflective window tinting (particularly west-facing
windows) where light, but not heat from a window is desirable.
Tip: A combination of sheer, fixed curtains and heavy retractable
drapes gives a lot of flexibility.
Your Garden
Greenery provides shade and will not reflect as much heat as a
concrete path!
• Plant deciduous trees to provide shade
• Use potted plants where there is no garden bed
• Lawn and other ground cover reduces reflected heat
Windows & Doors
Search for draughts! Hot air can easily come in under doors and
around windows.
• Install draught seals on outside doors
• Using weather-seal around windows and doors will minimise
air escape
• Seal any gaps between skirting boards and floors with
a caulking compound
Tip: For rooms with fixed vent windows such as toilet/bathrooms,
keep the door shut or fit auto-closers!
Roofs and Walls
• 70% of a home’s heat comes from the roof, 30% through
the walls.
• Install ceiling insulation to slow heat transfer from
your roof
• Install eave vents on the southern side of your home and
a roof ventilator to expel the heat built up in your roof space.
• Consider CSR Coolbatts insulation to slow heat transfer
from external walls
• Paint external walls a lighter colour to reflect heat
Tip: A quick early evening hose down of hot brick walls will
help to cool things down.
Common Sense Solutions
Changeover Times
Take note of the two times, morning and afternoon, that the outside
temperature is the same as inside.
• In the morning, close windows and doors to keep the cool
air inside and close blinds and awnings on the east, north and
west as the sun moves throughout the day
• At night, open windows and doors to let in cool breezes
• Get to know which doors in your home provide the best
natural air flow
Air Conditioning
An easy comfort decision which can be expensive to run if you’re
not careful.
• Install the unit on the shaded side of your home, if practical
• Limit the area you are cooling by closing doors to the
rest of the house
• Use your air conditioner’s thermostat or timer or
turn it off at night and when you’re out
• Consider an air transfer ducting system between specific
rooms
Tip: An insulated home will retain its coolness for much longer
periods, allowing you to run your air conditioner for less, saving
energy, money and the environment.
Things are heating
up!
Scientists predict that the earth's average temperature may increase
by a further 6°C by the year 2100. But take heart, by understanding
how heat works and learning to tame Mother Nature, you can make
a real improvement in your year-round comfort (and make a positive
contribution to global warming at the same time!)
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