But AC is not the only solution. Moreover, it tends to be quite expensive to buy and install and its operation during the summer will also be reflected in the electricity bill. Yet there is a simpler way – not to deal with heat when it is already inside, but to prevent it from getting into your flat in the first place.
Why is it usually hotter inside the flat than outside in summer?
It may sound strange, but it is often not the outside air itself that is to blame for an overheated flat. The main problem are the windows. The sun shines on the window for several hours, its rays get inside and start to heat up the floor, walls, and furniture. The heat starts to accumulate and leaves the room much more slowly. And your flat feels like a sauna.
The worst situation tends to be in flats facing south and west, but living in the attic or a room with large French doors can also be tough in the summer. The more sunlight gets in during the day, the more you will have to do in the evening when it comes to airing the room or cooling it with the air conditioning. It is therefore necessary to stop the heat outside, because when it passes through the glass, you have a problem.
Drapes and interior blinds are not enough
Many people go for the simplest option first – close the drapes or blinds. Yes, it helps protect from the harsh sunlight and irritating glare, but the heat itself has already come into the room, the window glass continues to heat up, and part of the energy stays in the interior. The difference between the interior and exterior shading is therefore quite significant. The exterior shading systems block solar energy before it reaches the glass and minimise overheating in the rooms, reducing the temperature by several degrees Celsius.
The exterior shading tackles the cause, not the effect
This is, in fact, the biggest difference between the exterior shading and air conditioning. The air conditioning only starts working when it gets hot in the room, actively removing the heat from the interior, and in doing so, it consumes a considerable amount of electricity. The exterior blinds or shutters are much more economical in this regard. They act like a shield that simply prevents the heat from getting inside.
How much can you save thanks to shading?
Yes, it is true that the greatest asset of exterior shading is significant cooling of the household on hot summer days. But there is another considerable factor making this type of shielding so popular – it saves money. If your air conditioning system does not need to run for several hours a day, it uses less electricity, a fact that comes to light during prolonged heatwaves.
But the savings do not stop when autumn arrives. The exterior shutters create an extra layer between the window and the exterior that helps minimise heat loss even during the winter. And they also protect home furnishings, as solar radiation gradually causes the floors, furniture, and textiles to fade, so the exterior shading systems effectively protect these items, too.
Choosing the type of exterior shading
Exterior roller shutters
If your main priority is to keep the temperature in your flat as low as possible, exterior shutters tend to be one of the first choices. As soon as you pull them down, they create an insulation barrier between the window and the outdoors that helps prevent the room from overheating. And more privacy and partial reduction of noise coming from the street is a welcome bonus. Aluminium shutters with thermal insulation filling are the most popular, as they help not only during the summer, but also in the winter.
Exterior blinds
You do not usually want to sit in the dim light with the windows blacked out when it is so lovely outside. Therefore, exterior blinds are often the most popular choice, as they allow you to control the amount of light as needed. And when the sun gets too hot, you can simply adjust the slats, so that the rays do not get inside. The room will remain pleasantly lit, but will not overheat. Another advantage is the ability to ventilate the room even while the blinds are down.
Screen roller shutters
One of the most common concerns about shading is that you will not be able to see the outside. But with screen shutters, this will never be the case. Their main advantage is that they reduce overheating of the room without limiting the view. This is why they are a great choice for rooms with French doors. Another advantage they offer is their durability. High-quality screen roller shutters will withstand even strong winds, so they are suitable not only for urban flats, but also more open locations.
Shading for roof windows
Anyone who has ever lived in a flat in the attic knows well how quickly it can heat up during the summer. The main source of heat are the roof windows, because the sun hits them at a much sharper angle compared to ordinary vertical windows. In this case, the most effective are exterior screen roller shutters for roof windows, which reduce overheating better than interior variants.
What will help during heatwaves?
Even the best shading will not help if you leave the windows open during the day and hot air flows inside. It is therefore necessary to keep the windows closed at all times during tropical days and air the rooms late in the evening or early in the morning. It also helps to open opposite windows, creating a pleasant night draught.
A few other little things can help too, such as:
- Limiting the use of an oven during the hottest parts of the day
- Switching off any appliances that needlessly produce heat
- Using balcony plants as a natural source of shade
- Combining shading with night-time ventilation
Of course, it is best to combine all the recommendations at once.
Do not get discouraged by high temperatures. With properly chosen exterior shading, you will look forward to summer more and more each year.
