Beat The Heat

As our climate grows warmer, it’s more important than ever to design and build homes that can cope with rising temperatures. Smart material choices make a big difference. A Queenslander home is possibly the best example of which house style is the best to help us fend the heat, but there are many products and solutions that can help keep interiors cool and reduce the need for constant air conditioning, inside and outside any home.

Building Tips:

• Choose lighter roof colours: Lighter tones reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it, helping to keep indoor temperatures lower and reducing the need for air conditioning.

• Use deep eaves, pergolas or awnings: These architectural features offer shade to windows and outdoor areas, keeping the sun out in summer while still allowing warmth in winter.

• Install well-insulated roofing and walls: Good insulation helps stabilise indoor temperatures, making homes more comfortable year-round.

• Choose high-performance glazing: Double glazing or low-e glass reduces heat gain and glare while keeping interiors bright.

But let’s not forget what surrounds the home. Landscaping is one of the most natural and effective ways to improve thermal comfort. Mature trees, native shrubs, and even a few well-placed pot plants can help lower the surrounding temperature, shield windows from harsh sun, and help manage rainwater runoff. A green home isn’t just about paint colours and insulation, it’s also about what you plant outside.

Landscaping Tips:

• Opt for permeable paving outdoors: Instead of fully sealed surfaces, choose materials that allow rain to soak into the ground, helping cool the immediate environment.

• Replant greenery where trees had to be removed: If you’ve had to clear vegetation for a build or renovation, make it a priority to replant. Every bit of green helps.

• Incorporate plants and gardens into the design: Whether it’s front yards, courtyards, balconies, or green walls, even small-scale planting can significantly reduce radiant heat.

Events like National Tree Day are so valuable, giving us motivation to help natural habitat grow back where it has been cleared. Held across Australia each year, they remind us that planting trees and nurturing greenery is not only good for the planet but also for the liveability of our neighbourhoods. Trees offer shade, support biodiversity, and bring beauty and wellbeing into our everyday lives.

Being good to the environment pays back. Make every day the right day to plant.

James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information. Learn more from James' knowledge via his FREE online shows James Bought A House (a renovation) and James Bought A Guest House (a brand new build).