There is also evidence that, with poor construction practices and virtually non-existent compliance testing, many would fail to meet even this level. Most houses are built to minimum regulations ( 5-6 stars out of 10). As a result, air-conditioning is now seen not as desirable, but as a necessity. Built for comfortīoth the housing industry and occupants seem to have little understanding of the impact design and construction have on the temperature inside the building. Restricted air movement due to nearby buildings, and radiant heat from hard surfaces such as concrete, can both drive temperatures up. This includes factors such as housing density, street scape and microclimate.įor example, during a hot spell in 2013 an Ipswich estate experienced minimum and maximum temperatures that were 3-4C hotter than the local weather station. But the success of this strategy depends on the urban context of the house. The research shows that occupants first try natural ventilation for achieving comfort.
#IF ITURN OFF CHEMSTATION WILL THE SOURCE COOL DOWN WINDOWS#
Or that people aren’t opening the windows overnight to allow the house to cool down. This may mean that houses have not been designed to get rid of daytime heat. Occupants tape foil to the inside of windows to try to stop their home from overheating in Queensland.īut our research showed that many people failed to take advantage of cooler overnight temperatures, meaning their homes were hotter than the outside during the night. Most participants in our survey, which looked at homes less than 10 years old, also used ceiling fans to create air movement. People in both groups also tended to shut up the house if it gets hot outside, or if there is no breeze, or before switching on the air-conditioner if they have one. Whether they have air-conditioning or not, we found that people usually approach hot weather in the same way: by opening doors and windows to capture breezes. Having a better understanding of these factors could help you to keep cool this summer – or prepare for the next one. We found that three factors influence the comfort of people inside a house: whether is it opened or closed its urban context and its construction materials.
We have looked at brick and lightweight houses, as well as those made from less common materials such as structural insulated panels, earth, straw, and advanced glass and roof coatings. (]() explores the role of design and construction on occupant comfort in hot weather. Such houses would also not meet current building regulations, as insulation has been required in new houses since 2003 (or earlier in some parts of Australia). This has led people to opening up their house, to stop them getting much hotter inside than outside.īut in temperatures of 40C and above, one could argue that both strategies (opening and closing) in an uninsulated house would result in very uncomfortable occupants. If uninsulated homes are closed up during a heatwave they would very likely become too hot. But the traditional timber and tin construction provides very little resistance to heat transfer. Such houses have great design features for cooling, including shady verandas and elevated floors. The traditional “Queenslander” house has long been seen as ideally suited for hot weather. To really stay cool when the heat is on, you also need to think about what type of house you have, and what its surroundings are like. Then, throw open the windows from late afternoon onwards, as long as overnight temperatures are lower outside than inside.īut our research shows that opening and closing doors, windows and curtains is just one of the factors at play. In a modern house the best advice is to shut up shop during the heat of the day, to keep the heat out. Listen to talk radio during a hot spell and you are likely to hear both views. Should you open or close your house to keep cool in a heatwave? Many people believe it makes sense to throw open doors and windows to the breeze others try to shut out the heat.
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