THE second heatwave of the summer has hit the UK with temperatures forecast to reach the early 30s.
Air conditioning is one option which you’d think would be a great way to stay cool, especially when sleeping at night.
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But how expensive is it to install it, and are the energy bill knock-on effects worth it?
Research from price comparison site Uswitch found adding air conditioning to just one room in your home starts from roughly £1,000.
And it’s not just the installation costs to consider either.
Built-in air conditioning units also have high running costs, adding around £5.29 per week to your energy bills, Uswitch estimated – that’s if you use them for just one hour every day.
Research by Moneytransfers.com also estimated having air con could up your energy bills by a steady 123% a month.
This was based on a 7kw unit being run for 20 hours a day though which most people aren’t likely to do.
So if you just wanted to use the unit when getting some sleep, you’ll be looking at a fraction of the cost.
And of course, the exact running cost will vary based on how energy efficient a model you buy, how regularly you use it and how much you pay for your energy.
Hot spells in the UK are few and far between as well, so you’re not likely to use air conditioning for most of the year.
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “Hot spells in the UK tend to last just a few weeks a year, so it is worth weighing up whether an air conditioning unit is good value for money.
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She added: “Costs to keep cool have risen more than 60% in the last year as energy prices have rocketed.”
As the cost of living crisis sees many households hit with higher energy bills, as well as food and fuel costs, it’s worth exploring alternatives to air con.
Yesterday, new predictions estimated energy bills could cost more than £4,000 this winter.
Sarah said: “Cheaper alternatives include portable air conditioning units and air coolers, which blow warm air over ice cold water to send a cool breeze around a room.
“A standard desktop fan is the cheapest way to cool yourself, both in terms of upfront costs and its lower energy consumption.”
What are the other alternatives?
If you don’t want to pay anything at all, there are some simple tricks you can employ to keep cool.
Here are just some of the ways you can keep from sweltering in the heat.
Close the blinds
Keeping your blinds or curtains closed throughout the day will prevent the sun shining inside and keep your property cooler.
If you’ve got the budget, the NHS website recommends using shades or reflective material outside your windows as well.
If this isn’t possible, you should use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed to keep your home cool.
And where possible, try not to use metallic blinds or dark curtains as this will make the room hotter.
Take out those chargers
Plugged in chargers can emit heat, and while it may not make a massive difference to the overall temperature of the room by taking them out of your sockets, you’re better off charging anything outside your bedroom to prevent creating extra heat.
The same goes for other electrics – so save on your energy bills and keep cooler all in one move.
Wear pyjamas
It might feel like the complete opposite of what you should do by putting on clothes when going to bed, but experts say it can actually make you cooler.
Dr Guy Leschziner, consultant neurologist and sleep physician, previously told the BBC: “If you’re wearing a natural fabric like cotton it acts as a wick for your sweat and it can increase the surface area for the sweat to evaporate, thus may make you feel much cooler.”
The UK is set to bask in hotter weather again this week, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid 30s.
If you think it’s too hot at your place of work or are concerned about your children at school, we previously explained your rights.
