building heatwave<\/a>, which is expected to peak on Friday (9 January).<\/p>\nLight House ArchiScience owner and one-half of Canberra\u2019s FixIt Chicks Jenny Edwards pointed out these types of heatwave conditions hadn\u2019t really occurred since the 2019\/20 summer period and housing design preferences meant many people may have inadvertently made their homes more susceptible to heating up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWindow size is a really big problem, we\u2019ve tended to put in \u2026 lots of glass,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks sexy, lets in lots of light and connects to the outdoors [but] even with double-glazing, heat transfers inside six to 10 times faster than through an insulated wall.\u201d<\/p>\n
She explained double-glazing was great at protecting against hot (and cold) air, but not against direct heat from the sun.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the sun strikes double-glazing, the heat still gets through \u2026 and houses [tend not to have] eaves, external awnings or lush gardens,\u201d Jenny explained.<\/p>\n
Some developers and home-owners who are building choose to extend a home\u2019s footprint rather than prioritise some garden space, or choose concrete and paving over grass and lush plants, which means homes don\u2019t have an external buffer to cool air before it blows indoors.<\/p>\n
Choosing artificial turf over natural grass can also have heating consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtificial turf gets so incredibly hot, it has a heat-island effect,\u201d Jenny said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[In these conditions] there\u2019s no point even watering it, it will just evaporate \u2026 just close up your house and avoid it.\u201d<\/p>\n
So what if you\u2019re living in a rental where you don\u2019t have a choice? Or you don\u2019t have access to transport to head to an air-conditioned shopping centre or another alternative?<\/p>\n
Jenny has many low cost suggestions to keep cool, following the acronym SIFT.<\/p>\n
\u201cS\u201d is for shading your glass from direct sunlight. It\u2019s probably too late at this stage to have a vertical garden planted or awnings installed to shade your windows, but stopping the sun from hitting the glass in the first place is one way to make sure your home stays cool.<\/p>\n
Ways to do this includes using bull clips to secure an old sheet or tarp to your gutters to hang in front of windows, or place cardboard against the panes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be pretty, but if you can stop the sun from hitting the glass, that can reduce the heat transfer by up to 80 per cent,\u201d Jenny said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u201d is for insultation, which would be more of a long-term project, particularly planning to improve your ceiling insulation.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, people can invest in an indoor\/outdoor thermometer to perfectly time when to open and close windows.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople rightly open their home overnight to cool things down, but in the morning they leave them open for too long,\u201d Jenny explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really need to close up your house as soon as the outdoor temperature starts rising.\u201d<\/p>\n
On to \u201cF\u201d, and this is using fans in the most effective way possible.<\/p>\n
Take them into the coolest room of the house \u2013 which is probably on the southside \u2013 and turn them on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t change the air temperature, but it helps you to lose heat [from your body] and feel more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
And lastly is \u201cT\u201d \u2013 temperature and time; as is, when it\u2019s best to open up your home.<\/p>\n
As the outdoor air temperature falls below the internal air, turn on your exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to run the fans all night, they\u2019re noisy \u2026 but they can help move hot air out quickly,\u201d Jenny explained.<\/p>\n
Increase your comfort by taking off shoes and socks and placing your feet in a tub of water. Placing a cool cloth on your neck, or just keeping your hair wet and using a spray bottle as the fan\u2019s air blows on you can also help.<\/p>\n
Those who have reverse-cycle air-conditioning can switch to dry-mode, which can slightly reduce the humidity in the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis helps you feel cooler and uses less energy,\u201d Jenny said.<\/p>\n
Jenny\u2019s advice comes as medical groups remind the community to make sure they know the warning signs of heat-related illness, with children being particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Australian Medical Association ACT president Dr Kerrie Aust said this was because their bodies heated up faster and they may not recognise or communicate symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop rapidly in children. Knowing the signs and responding early can save lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Michael Wright warned again complacency.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Australians, we\u2019re accustomed to hot weather, however we must not underestimate the serious health effects that can occur,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeat waves have caused the most hospitalisations related to extreme weather over the last decade and the risk of hospitalisation increases with age.\u201d<\/p>\n
Early warning signs:<\/p>\n
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