Summer Heat In Australia - How To Prepare For Your Home

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World over, there have been thousands of heat-related illnesses and deaths reported every year. And if statistics are anything to go by, these numbers can only increase unless something drastic happens to prevent the situation.

According to a report by the Australian government on selected states, the estimated number of heat-related deaths expected annually for the year 2007, 2020, and 2050 respectively, is as follows

Perth
2007- 293 deaths
2020- 673 deaths
2050- 1419 deaths

Adelaide
2007- 200 deaths
2020- 357 deaths
2050- 573 deaths

Brisbane
2007- 134 deaths
2020- 177 deaths
2050-1072 deaths

Considering the under-reporting of heat-related deaths in Australia, the situation can be so much worse than we imagine.

So, what is the Solution?

There are two reasons why Australia and the universe, at large, is dying from heat. These are

Extreme weather that keeps getting worse due to global warming
Lack of preparedness against hot weather and heatwaves

In both cases, people are either ignorant or lack the knowledge to understand right from wrong. Whatever it is, the fact remains that anyone can die from heat. The only way out is for people to change their attitude and learn how to protect themselves from extreme heat.

In this article, you will learn the different ways to prepare your home for the summer heat.

Ensure that Your Air Conditioner is in Good Condition

Is your air conditioner working well? Check with Brisbane aircon to confirm. One thing you do not want is for your air conditioner to stop working during summer because you will have to deal with the dire consequences. Checking your air conditioner will help you identify and fix possible issues to avoid being caught by surprise in the summer. Apart from that, it will also help maximize its performance. That means less consumption of energy in your home.

Ensure that You have Enough Supply of Water

Due to the increased rate of evaporation, water can get so scarce during summer. In extreme cases, rivers, dams, and other sources can dry-up and create a water shortage. Although that does not have to be the case, it’s still wise to prepare yourself to face the situation just in case it happens.

Install gutters in your home to trap rainwater, then buy or build water tanks for storage. If you are a livestock farmer, you will need to store even more water to avoid losing your animals due to dehydration.

Get Ready for Fires

Fire outbreaks are so common during summer, and so many people have died as a result. These fires can happen anywhere, to anyone, and at any time. But there are measures you take to minimize their chances of happening to you. Some of these measures are

Clear everything within a 10-meter radius of your home, and that includes plastic bins, trees, mulch, shrubs, and anything else that can ignite a fire.
Seal any gaps or cracks on your pipe outlets or air conditioning vents to avoid an ember attack during a fire
Prepare an emergency plan and practice it with your family to ensure that you all know what to do just in case of a fire emergency.
Update your insurance cover

Seal Your Doors and Windows

To make your room as comfortable as possible, you will need to keep all your conditioned air inside your house. You can achieve that by

Close all your doors and windows.
Inspect your house for cracks or holes, which allow the air to escape and sealing them using a sealant.
Use thermal curtains on your windows to keep the heat out.

Keep Your Vents Clean

Over time, your air vents can collect dirt, dust, mold, pollen, and other solid particles, which affect their ability to perform. You will need to clean your air vents to maintain the cool temperatures in your home. You can achieve that by dusting and vacuuming them at least once after every week to ensure maximum performance at all times.

Insulate Your Home

Insulation is yet another effective way to maintain the cool temperature in your home. There are several ways to achieve that, but combining bulk insulation and foil insulation is the most affordable option. By insulating your home, you will reduce your energy consumption by 45%, meaning your energy bills will go down too. Considering the economy right now, this is a smart move on your part.

Home Insulation

Food for Thought

While there are so many ways to prepare for summer, we need to find a more permanent solution to the problem. That means solving the problem from the roots upwards.

Extreme heat and weather is the problem, but that is a result of global warming, which is also caused by pollution. As you can see, people are the root cause of the problem. If we can find a way to reverse the situation through our actions, then the world would be a much better place to live.

The following two ideas are an ideal place to start to solve the problem once and for all.

Implementing green solutions
Waste management

You might not notice the difference in 1 or 2 days, but if everyone can play their part, your efforts will pay off in the long-run.

Preparing yourself for summer heat is not just about what you do in your home; it is also about preventing a bad situation from becoming worse than it is already.