From shades to fans and airconditioning, there are many ways to get the coolest pad in town, writes Georgia Madden.

If the thought of sizzling through another summer is enough to make you melt, fear not. Today's home cooling products offer energy efficiency and good looks so you can chill out without sacrificing style or blowing the budget.

The latest airconditioners, fans and evaporative coolers are leaner in looks, cheaper to run and kinder to the environment than their predecessors. Plus, the range of extra features has expanded to include energy-saving reverse-cycle modes, retractable or replaceable fan blades, and super-slim styling so that your cooling appliance blends seamlessly with your interior.

Which cooling solution is right for you depends on your home's design, your climate and your budget. All cooling appliances come with an energy-star rating, and while those with more stars tend to be more expensive initially, they cost less to run so may be a better option in the long-term.

Passive cooling

The first step in cooling your home is to prevent heat from entering it in the first place — best achieved at the building or renovating stage when you can design appropriate thermal-efficiency features and build them in. But there are many ways to improve the climate in an existing home without resorting to artificial cooling every time the temperature rises.

Unshaded windows are often the worst culprits when it comes to solar gain. Shutters and blinds minimise the amount of heat and light that enter through your windows, plus they're eco friendly and low maintenance.

According to Jennifer Elmer, Marketing Manager at Designed Blinds Australia, blockout blinds are your best defence against blazing summers. “Blockout blinds offer maximum protection from heat, glare and UV,” she says. “They minimise light penetration and if you have them backed with a white fabric, they'll reflect even more heat and light.”

If you want to block out the sun but maintain your view, consider a dual roller blind made from insulated sheer and blockout fabrics. Or, have blinds made up in an insulated cellular or honeycomb fabric — these trap hot air before it enters your room.

For optimum efficiency, install a motorised system that can sense changes in sun and wind direction and adjust louvre windows, shutters or blinds automatically. Check out systems such as Breezway's Powerlouvre and Move by Designed Blinds Australia.

Next, look at the outside of your home to see how and where else you can prevent heat from entering. Consider planting deciduous trees on the northern and western sides of your home to shade the house in summer and let the sun in during the cooler months. Install awnings over windows that take the brunt of the afternoon heat.

A heat-reflective coating or surface on your roof is a wise investment too. Or increase the number of vents in the ceiling to allow rising hot air to escape — they're easy and inexpensive to retrofit, and surprisingly effective. Alternatively, install solar-powered roof fans, such as Solatube's SolarStar ventilation fan, to circulate air and extract heat from your roof space.

Fans

Whether fixed to the ceiling or the portable desk/pedestal variety, fans use a fraction of the energy of airconditioners, making them the most economical way to cool your home. Power levels vary, so choose one that's powerful enough to provide the cooling you need. Also consider factors such as the blade span on fixed models — the larger the span, the greater the area being cooled — and oscillation on portables, which varies between 180 and 360.

Fans have undergone a style makeover in recent years — from sleek chrome and coloured models to island resort-inspired and retro designs. Many also have features such as built-in lights, retractable blades and reverse-cycle settings that warm your home in winter by pushing the hot air back down from the ceiling.

Airconditioners

Airconditioning remains a popular option when it comes to home cooling. With reason: there are different systems to suit different layouts and they can comfortably cool anything from a single room to a whole house. On the downside, it is comparatively costly to run.

Airconditioning systems can be broadly grouped into two categories — refrigeration-based and evaporative. Refrigeration-based coolers include split, ducted and portable systems. A split system, which consists of an evaporator unit indoors and a condenser unit outdoors, is ideal for large rooms and moderately-sized open-plan areas. A ducted system cools the entire house via vents in the ceiling, walls or floor. Portable airconditioners and window units are useful for cooling small areas.

Evaporative airconditioning cools hot air inside your home by creating a breeze, and is gaining popularity in non-humid climes. “It operates in a way that's fresh-air based so you can keep the doors and windows open,” says Charles Benevento, National Sales & Marketing Manager at Brivis Climate Systems. Evaporative airconditioners are cheaper to buy and operate than refrigeration-based models, and produce less greenhouse gas emissions. However, evaporative systems are not suited to homes in very humid climates.

Cool runnings

Get the most out of your airconditioning by following these rules:
Close all windows and doors when the unit is in use.

Be vigilant about maintenance. Have your aircon serviced annually and clean the filters monthly. A dirty filter impedes airflow and makes the machine work harder, reducing efficiency and costing you money.

If you opt for a split-system, install the outdoor unit in a shady spot so it doesn't overheat.

Looking for more indoor inspiration? Check out our Indoor section.