Australian tips for keeping cool in a heatwave

Where I grew up, snow days were a foreign concept; instead, children watched the thermometer and hoped for more than 40C. As the climate crisis has pushed southeastern Australia towards at least one 40C day each summer, people have adapted their behaviour. Many rely on air conditioning, but there are other, more environmentally friendly ways to stay comfortable — and for some people aircon can be life‑saving.

Start by keeping heat out: draw curtains and close blinds before the sun heats a room. Stuart Walker notes you should respond hours earlier, because once sunlight has warmed a space it will stay hot. Honeycomb blinds trap air and provide good insulation, vertical blinds and venetian styles offer flexibility, and thermal curtains with a pelmet work well; avoid darker fabrics that absorb heat.

When evening arrives, open windows to create a cross‑breeze and use fly screens so you can keep them open overnight. If possible, sleep in the coolest room — usually north‑facing rooms with small windows or lower floors in multistorey homes.

Australia, southeastern Australia

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