In places like Spain, where intense heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, it is crucial to know effective strategies to keep homes cool in the summer, particularly for those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of extreme temperatures.
There’s no doubt that promoting climate-friendly shelters and public spaces with shade and greenery outside of home is a key strategy against the negative effects of climate change. However, some strategies at the household level are worth mentioning. Using efficient cooling techniques, maximizing natural shading, promoting cross ventilation, and adopting smart technologies are essential to create comfortable living spaces and also reduce energy consumption.
In this context, one of the goals of the Cooltorise project is to provide citizens with practical and helpful information to tackle the summer heat. All of this considering the impact that heat has on vulnerable groups, who cannot afford to increase their electricity bills. The local television station in Barcelona (BTV) echoed the impact of these workshops on people in vulnerable situations. Thanks to these sessions, workshop attendees were able to learn some strategies to reduce their electricity bills by 5% to 10%, while effectively combating heat. This is demonstrated by Jenni’s experience, one of the attendees, who explained on Catalan television (TV3) that these workshops helped her combat the heat without increasing her bill.
Here are some tips, mainly focusing on passive and adaptive strategies, that were shared with the workshop beneficiaries through the participation of the Summer Poverty Energy Agents (SEPA):
- Take full advantage of natural ventilation. It is recommended to ventilate during the night and early in the morning, avoiding it when the outside temperature exceeds 30 ° C. If possible, encourage cross ventilation for optimal airflow.
- Fans are your best ally! Fans are the optimal alternative to air conditioning: they consume up to 20 times less energy and facilitate perspiration through the skin.
- Prevent the sun from entering your home: To block solar radiation, it is helpful to use awnings, shutters, or blinds, but not curtains.
- Opt for light and fresh meals (reducing the generation of body heat during digestion), stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, and avoid consuming alcohol or sugary / caffeine-containing beverages.
Additionally, in dry climates, it is recommended to employ the evaporative cooling technique. This involves moistening curtains, outdoor patios, or air in general to lower its temperature.
A summary poster was created to draft some of these solutions, from the point of view of addressing energy poverty and empowering citizens:
https://cooltorise.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/d32-household-eng.pdf
