Weather conditions are expected to become increasingly extreme in the future, with longer heatwaves and more tropical nights when temperatures fail to cool down properly. For many people, keeping their homes comfortable is therefore becoming an increasing challenge.
In conversation with RTL on Monday morning, listeners shared their experiences and questions about coping with high temperatures at home, while experts Fenn Faber and Sarah Juchems of the national Klima-Agence joined the discussion to offer advice.
One of the first things to recognise, Faber explained, is that everyone experiences heat differently and that living conditions play a major role.
"If I live in the countryside and have plenty of greenery around my house, that's obviously very different from living in a top-floor flat in the city", he said.
The most important recommendation is to prevent heat from entering the home in the first place. Shutters, blinds, and other forms of shading should be closed as soon as direct sunlight hits the windows.
Windows should only be opened when it is cooler outside than indoors, usually early in the morning or in the evening. Simple measures such as avoiding unnecessary use of ovens and other electrical appliances can also help prevent additional heat from building up inside.
Good insulation does not only protect against the cold in winter but can also keep summer heat outside for longer, Sarah Juchems explained. Luxembourg's current Klimabonus subsidy scheme, run by the Ministry of the Environment, provides financial support for insulation, among other measures.
"Depending on the material and the thickness of the insulation, support can range from €40 to €140 per square metre, for example for a façade or roof", Juchems said. "There is also an additional bonus of €15 per square metre for choosing a green façade or green roof."
Many listeners raised concerns about conditions in schools, care homes, hospitals, and sheltered workshops, questioning whether new buildings should be better designed to cope with extreme heat and how particularly vulnerable people can be protected.
Faber pointed out that conventional measures such as shading and night-time ventilation are often no longer sufficient in such buildings. In some cases, air conditioning may also need to be considered, ideally in combination with solar panels to offset electricity consumption, he said.
At the same time, he stressed the importance of designing new buildings intelligently from the outset, with good insulation, efficient ventilation systems, and plenty of greenery around them to reduce heat as much as possible
Many questions also focused on air conditioning. While it can cool indoor spaces effectively, it consumes a significant amount of electricity.
Portable air-conditioning units are particularly energy-intensive, using almost three to four times as much electricity as fixed systems. They are therefore most suitable for cooling a single room for a short period.
Where a permanent air-conditioning system is installed, Klima-Agence recommends combining it with solar panels.
Regarding fans, these can make people feel more comfortable but do not actually lower the temperature of a room. "As an an example: cooling three rooms at home with a portable unit for one week uses roughly the same amount of electricity as a refrigerator does over an entire year", Faber said.
Beyond individual homes, listeners also asked how towns and cities could better adapt to increasingly hot conditions in the future. Juchems and Faber called for smarter planning, more greenery, and the removal of sealed surfaces.
Gravel gardens were another topic of discussion, with several listeners questioning why this type of front garden is still permitted.
Faber explained that stones absorb large amounts of heat and can reach temperatures of 40°C to 50°C directly outside a home. This not only raises temperatures in the surrounding area but also causes the building itself to heat up more quickly.
As an alternative, Klima-Agence recommends green front gardens, green façades, and green roofs. Plants help lower temperatures by providing shade and releasing moisture into the air, while also making the area around a home more pleasant.
The new national building regulations are therefore expected to prohibit gravel gardens in future. Some municipalities have already introduced similar rules or actively support residents in converting their front gardens.
For those unsure how best to protect their home from heat, Klima-Agence also offers free consultations at home. Advisers assess which measures would be most suitable in each individual case and what government financial support may be available.
