8th July 2026 Bulletin Eco-Corner

Keeping Cool at HomeAs we go towards yet another heatwave, all the Eco-conversation is about how we can avoid heat and keep ourselves cool at home.  While a first thought may be of the cooling air conditioning we sometimes experience in hotter climes, this is not necessarily the first option to go for, and is certainly not the cheapest.  If we are really concerned about the planet, as we are encouraged to do in the Torah, we need to look first at how to minimise the amount of heat coming into our homes.  To do this treat your home like a fortress. 

Keep windows and curtains firmly closed during the day to block solar gain.  Only open your windows early in the morning or late at night when the outside air is cooler to let fresh air circulate.  If you have any skylights, these are the most direct source of heat into your house, so make sure you have window blinds for them.  External window blinds are more effective if you can get them.  For a cheap solution, try sourcing a white fitted sheet which can then be placed on the outside of your skylight.  If you are lucky enough to have a pergola, try fitting a shade sail.  You can get these for as little as £20, and they will significantly reduce the heat coming into your house.  Outside shutters are very common in hot countries because blocking external radiation by having blinds or shutters outside your windows is very effective, though not always the cheapest option or the easiest to install.  However, if you want to invest in keeping cool in the long term, this is the way to go.