this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
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We simply didn't need those things. Cold winters were more of an issue than hot summers, so our homes historically have been built with brick or stone construction that holds the warmth.
When it is hot for just a few days in a row, that same construction actually helps stay cool, because even if it's hot outside the heat takes a long time to penetrate, and inside stays nice and cool.
But now that climate is changing and we're seeing summers with a couple of weeks of intensely hot weather in a row with temperatures higher than ever, that same construction actually becomes a problem. Because now the stone and brick become completely saturated with heat, and even at night when it's cooler outside the brick is staying hot and radiating that heat. It's basically like living in a pizza oven.
The past few years it's been like that maybe only a couple weeks of the year, but nonetheless air conditioners are starting to become more popular.
For insect screens, same deal - we just never usually have a problematic amount of insects. Which is why when we do have a lot of insects it's in the news.
Yes, thermal mass only serves to even out fluctuations in temperature. If the outside environment swings between hot and cold then a building with high thermal mass will tend to have a temperature in the middle of those two extremes. Like how a heavier ship is tossed about on the waves much less than a small boat.
But if a place is consistently hot or cold for a long time thermal mass doesn't really do anything. At most you can use it as a battery, so you can, for example, run a heat pump while electricity is the cheapest and use the thermal mass to maintain the temperature you established over the costly period.
So many people think that its a substitute for insulation though, which slows down the rate of heat transfer in or out, and does actually let you use less energy to maintain a given temperature.
A large part of the problem is people trying to get as much sun in the house as possible. If you don't do that its still perfectly comfortable without AC. Just open the windows overnight and shut them in the morning.
Would like to get a reflective film for the windows to reduce the sun coming through though rather than just shutting the curtains as that still lets some heat in but its better than open curtains.
You can get wall insulation that is, effectively a stiff bubble wrap made of milar foil. It's not even that expensive I cut it to match windows, then used suction cuts to fix it in place.
It's amazingly effective at keeping heat out. During the 45 degree weather, I barely had to use my air conditioner, to have a comfortable temperature.
The film allows you to still see out and get a bit of light and doesn't result in your house looking like a drug den. I am aware of the foil though. How does it compare to tinfoil on cardboard?
I've not tried tin foil. The insulation seems to be more robust, and it wants to lie flat. It's also optimised for IR reflection, tin foil isn't.
Downside, it's a near perfect blackout material. I only put them up when it's going to be ridiculously hot, and only on the sun facing side of the house.
Might give it a try, wonder how long before my cat decides its a scratch toy though. Another benefit to external window films.
Oh, yeah? Must be nice to get some moving air in the summer. Here you never get a breeze with your 35°C. Windows were open all night? Enjoy a refreshing 28°C in the house for like an hour before it heats back up again.
We are talking about UK weather aren't we?