Are you finding the weather intolerable but also feeling afraid of soaring electrical bills? Well, your worries end here as this article provides the best solutions to your problems to cool down. The following are 10 innovative ways Pinnacle Property Management in Santa Monica advises could help you to combat the blistering weather using interior design ideas. Without further ado, let’s check them out right now! And if you’re also interested in lowering your electricity bill, sign up with Senoko Energy electricity retailer!
Ways To Cool Down Your Overheating Home
1. Airflow
The key to a well-ventilated house is having enough airflow pass through your house. Openings such as windows and doors at each end will form an air tunnel that constitutes proper air ventilation. However, for those living in an apartment with a fixed layout, you can still optimize airflow by ensuring no additional barriers are blocking natural airflow. If possible, you can consider knocking down walls to go for an open-plan concept as this would maximize space available and increase air circulation. On top of that, do keep in mind that having as little clutter as possible would help to enhance airflow, so we would encourage a minimalist interior direction.
2. Keeping UV Rays away
Even though windows are necessary for fresh air to enter our houses, it also permits UV rays to be radiated into our homes, especially with Singapore’s all-year-round sunny climate. An effective way to combat the hot weather and sun rays would be the use of coating for our windows. There are two types, one which is frosted for privacy and the other is transparent to get a good view of the outside. For further protection, you can consider getting UV-deflecting glass with features that block out UV rays. This includes the likes of double-glazing, argon fills, and low e-coating. Alternatively, you can opt for thick and opaque curtains, as well as heat-reflective blinds instead.
3. Use of Ceiling Fans and Dehumidifiers
Fans are superior to air conditioners as not only are they environmentally-friendly, but they are also more affordable and require low maintenance. While there are many different types of fans out there, which one of them is exactly the best? The answer is ceiling fans. Among all fans, ceiling fans provide optimum airflow. The reason being, ceiling fans have longer and wider blades which results in stronger drafts of wind. Also, since ceiling fans are usually positioned in the center of the ceiling, this allows the wind to be circulated within the room for maximum coverage.
Due to a tropical climate, Singapore is both hot and humid. As such, a dehumidifier is an ideal tool to reduce humidity and cool down living spaces.
4. Opt for Surface Materials that are Cool To the Touch
The type of surface materials plays a determinant role in keeping your house cool and this is why we will be discussing which flooring type is best suited for Singapore’s hot weather. First of all, wood is material that retains heat exceptionally well, making the floor and house feel warm. The same goes out for materials such as carpet, vinyl, cork, and fiberglass. On the other hand, the ideal materials that we recommend are marble, cement, natural stone, and porcelain tiles. They are cooling to touch as they own the ability to dissipate heat quickly.
5. Go for Lighter Colours and Simple Patterns
For those who may not know about this, different colors have varying heat-conducting capabilities. Dark colors tend to absorb heat while contrastingly, light colors deflect them.
Therefore, we advise households to paint their walls in pale shades, which include the likes of beige, pale pink, and cream. Furthermore, do refrain from choosing wallpapers with complicated patterns as they would cause the room to look smaller and confined.
6. Integrate Water Features
Next, we would recommend households to add some water features into their homes. Although you might worry and think that this is more applicable for landed properties, fret not! There are a plethora of innovative water installations meant for indoor usage today. Not only do they provide a physical cooling effect, but they are also psychologically effective at tricking our minds into thinking that we are in a cooler environment, due to the calming sounds of flowing water.
7. Decorate Your House with Plants
After water features, we would like to suggest having plants in your house as well. Not only do plants help to liven up the place, but they are also natural aerators that help release fresh oxygen into the air and this contributes to a cooling effect. To maximize the amount of green, you can think about having a green wall. Green walls provide great insulation against the sweltering weather and they can also serve as an art piece that will sweep visitors off their feet.— look at how many purposes it can fulfill!
8. Remove Incandescent Bulbs with LED Lighting
When it comes to the conventional type of light bulbs, incandescent bulbs use tungsten wires which cause wires to be heated up. After that, this heat would then get transferred into the atmosphere and surroundings. Hence, we encourage the use of LED lights instead as they radiate less heat.
9. Having an Exhaust Fan in Your Kitchen
As known by many, the kitchen tends to be the hottest place of an entire house. However, this perception can be changed as the amount of heat can be reduced through an exhaust fan installation. The exhaust fan works by extracting the heat from the steam emitted and it is directed outside of your house. This way, there will be no more hot air being trapped in the house.
10. Smart Home Systems
Today, home automation is so advanced, accessible, and budget-friendly. What we are talking about here is specifically the smart systems that assess room temperatures and are programmed to lower the blinds accordingly. Furthermore, some can even turn on the air-conditioner before you arrive home. This means there is no longer a need to wait for the room to cool down!
Bottom Line
All in all, the tips that we have mentioned above apply to most housing types in Singapore and we hope that you have found them useful! If you still have more relevant queries, do check out articles on the topic or seek some customized solutions through a consultation with an interior designer.
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