Home Design Guides: Climate control
Ceiling fans
Simple but incredibly effective and available in all shapes and sizes. Fans have been in use in some form or another for as long as humans have appreciated a breeze.
Evaporative airconditioners or coolers
Evaporative coolers work by blowing air across wet elements to create a chilled breeze. These types of coolers are best suited to less humid climates.
Refrigerative air conditioners
Air conditioners are refrigerative coolers. While these aren't the most efficient coolers available, they are incredibly effective and provide excellent cooling in any climate.
Roof sprinklers
Roof sprinklers spray roof surfaces with water, in an effort to cool the roof and therefore lower the temperature inside the house.
Solar cooling
Solar cooling uses the sun's heat in one of several ways in order to improve airflow and help to draw heat out of the house.
Automated controls and sensors for cooling
In conjunction with other home automation functions, your home can be set up so that cooling and shading are controlled automatically according to your needs.
Split system air conditioners
Split system refrigerative air conditioners are popular because they are relatively quiet and are designed to effectively cool the sorts of areas you might find in homes.
Cassette air conditioners
Cassette air conditioners are ceiling mounted, and because of their considerable cooling capacity, are normally best suited to large living areas.
Ducted air conditioners
Ducted air conditioners are designed to cool entire houses. A cooling unit is typically mounted on the roof, and cool air is spread around the home through a network of ducts.
Geothermal heat pump systems
Geothermal heat pump systems are able to draw heat from the ground to use for cooling your home. Geothermal systems are expensive to install but very cheap to run.
How to cool different sized areas
The size of the area you're cooling will have a dramatic effect on how you're able to cool it. Likewise, the way a room is cooled also depends on how it's shaped.
Humidity and cooling
Humidity affects the way we feel heat - and different technologies handle this differently. Find out how different cooling technologies stack up against humidity.
Fan types and blade efficiency
Learn how the type of fan, the number of blades, the size of the blades and the shape of the blades can all affect how well a fan pushes air around a room.
Where to position airconditioners and fans
Planning where your air conditioner will be installed (or even where to place your fan) can make a very big difference in how effectively you can cool a room.
Energy efficient cooling
Energy efficiency is a genuine and serious concern when it comes to cooling. Some systems use far more than others - find out what's right for your needs.
How to control heat gain through windows
The main purposes for windows are to allow light in and to let you see out - and this often comes at the expense of their ability to prevent heat transfer. Learn more about heat loss through windows.
Insulation and climate control
Artificially cooling an area depends heavily on how well you can keep heat out of it. Good insulation is vital to ensuring that your house remains cool.
How to heat your bathroom
Depending on where you live and how you heat the rest of your house, you may need extra heating in your bathroom.
Cooling regulations
We’ve all seen the energy efficiency labels on whitegoods, but what do they mean when it comes to air conditioners?
MEPS labels and ratings for air conditioners
Air conditioners come with labels these days that indicate how efficiently they're able to cool (and to heat, if they're reverse-cycle models). Find out more about these labels and what to look for.