Another UK heatwave is approaching after unusually high temperatures in May and June, prompting a rush to cool homes rather than warm them. This Guardian piece argues that costly, energy-hungry air conditioning is not the only answer, setting out seven cheaper, more sustainable ways to keep rooms cool. The core message from the experts quoted is that blocking the sun before it enters a building matters more than the cooling device used afterwards, making passive shading a first, sensible step for both budgets and the environment.

Experts including engineer Tom Greenhill and the British Blind & Shutter Association's Stuart Dantzic stress that external shading is far more effective than internal blinds or curtains, rejecting up to three times more solar heat, and that skylights should be tackled first. Suggested fixes range from very cheap to costly: repurposing old sheets or towels, a £5 Ikea sheet over a skylight, external Velux awning blinds from around £80, camouflage netting for about £10, and solar sails from roughly £20, up to aluminium blackout shutters costing £530 or more with fitting. An advantage of removable shading over reflective film is that homes still benefit from warmth and light in winter.