A small chill: Three handy tips for keeping your tiny home cool this summer
One of the greatest obstacles for many tiny home occupants is the intense heat of Australian summers. Do not despair, Aussie tiny home owners- you can keep your little living space cool this summer, even if you're off-grid. Check out these three handy tips for keeping your tiny home cool this summer!
Insulate and shade
For Australian homeowners, it pay not to underestimate the value of insulation and shade, particularly when working to combat the harsh Australian sun. Quality insulation is absolutely vital for comfortable tiny home living in extreme heat and cool, particularly if you're planning an off-grid lifestyle with low energy consumption. When building a tiny home for optimal energy efficiency, reduce the number of windows and opt for high-quality double-glazed window panes. When insulating your roof, consider insulation materials that have the highest rating for heat flow resistance- rigid foam, spray foam, and wool are all excellent choices for tiny home roof and wall insulation. Opting for a pale roof colour can also significantly reduce heat absorption.
Give your tiny home a helping hand by shielding it for the sun's harsh rays. Passive solar design is an ideal solution for tiny homeowners looking to reduce heat and cooling costs. When building your tiny home, ensure that awnings, eaves and pergolas are adequate for your climate and energy-efficiency requirements. When used strategically, bamboo can be the ideal solar shade option for tiny homes- plant to shield west-facing windows for ultimate effectiveness.
Let the outside in
Fresh air circulation is a wonderful, cost effective way to reduce the heat in your tiny home, particularly of an evening when the air temperature lowers. When the heat of the day has passed, open your windows to harness the natural air-conditioning quality of cross-ventilation. When the summer heat is truly taking its toll on your tiny home living experience, reduce the impact indoors by moving your cooking activities outside. Whether you use a barbeque, portable gas cooker, or simply eat fresh salads on your tiny home's pergola, evening outdoor meals are a great way to drastically reduce indoor heat creation, while enjoying the balmy summer sunsets.
Shop for a mini AC
For your tiny home to be the faithful oasis that you need, an air-conditioner is a must in Australia. While portable or window AC units can be effective, however for a permanent, energy-efficient cooling option a mini spit-system is the answer for your tiny home. Not only will it cool your tiny home more effectively than more temporary cooling units, a mini spilt-system is more effective than a ducted system- it will happily run on solar power, and can be used as a mess-free, environmentally-friendly heating solution in winter!
When choosing or installing a mini split-system for your tiny home, chat with your friendly local heating and cooling experts for up to date information and advice.