New data shows that Brits are increasingly turning to portable and built-in air conditioning units to beat the heat.
There has been a 307% increase in Google searches for ‘air conditioning unit’ in the last two years, with an average of 135,000 searches made per month.
During the same period, search demand for ‘portable air conditioner’ has also risen, bringing in 90,500 monthly searches, a 235% uplift.
With 1 in 5 homes already overheating and a rising demand for air conditioning, Jack Reading from Emperor Paint has shared how you can future-proof your home against extreme weather, not just for the current summer but for decades.
The drawbacks of air conditioning
“As UK summers get hotter, many homes are struggling to stay cool. The knock-on effect is that people are looking to keep themselves cooler with air conditioning, rather than directly taking action to reduce how much heat their home absorbs. Air conditioning units are expensive to run, can dry out the air, and can have a negative environmental impact.
“Portable air conditioning comes with its own set of problems, including only cooling a relatively small area, taking up floor space, and requiring venting to avoid a buildup of moisture.”
The smarter way to keep your home cool
“The smarter and greener solution might be simpler than you think. Applied to the exterior of a house, masonry paint that has solar reflective properties can keep rooms cooler during the day and reduce heat stored in walls for a more comfortable night,” says Jack Reading.
“Most masonry paints will reflect a bit of sunlight, but some masonry paints, especially in lighter colours like white, can reflect far more. With Emperor Masonry Paint, we use higher levels of titanium dioxide as part of a premium formulation, which helps reflect more of the sun’s energy away from the surface and keeps wall temperatures lower in hot weather. During independent testing, it was found to have a Solar Reflectance Index value of 86%, a level seen in specialist high-reflectance coatings.”
Be prepared for heatwaves
“With the UK set to enter its third heatwave this week, with a predicted peak of 35 degrees, now is the time to consider what upgrades you could be making to avoid the need to rely on air conditioning.”
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