A bachelor friend of mine who recently invited me to his newly-reconstructed bungalow home for a private viewing. He had it constructed a high ceiling and orientated to encourage maximum flow of fresh air.It worked because I sat in the living room on a hot afternoon feeling quite cool despite there being no fans nor air conditioning on.
It seemed the perfect house for those who want airy living places that don’t want to waste vast quantities of electricity just to keep air circulating. It was in fact perfect for him living there, but it was too bright for my tastes as it admitted too much light.
What You Should Consider Before Recreating Your Breezy Home
I don’t hate sunlight with a vengeance just not keen of being constantly exposed too much of it. The flip side of an airy home, besides no privacy, is that it bounds to let in too much light. To keep air moving, there must be access points like open windows or doors where breezes can enter, and exit points at the other end of the house. Otherwise there won’t be much flow of fresh air indoors.
1. Blinds and Curtains
Unfortunately, open doors and windows let sunlight in. Thin breathable curtains are insufficient protection for those who can’t tolerate even indirect sunlight, because they let rays through. Only opaque, lined curtains will do, but air hardly gets past.
Blinds are solution if they can be angled so that the wind blows easily through, but nary a ray peeps in.
Not fond of blinds and still want to keep the sun out and air moving? Open your windows, hang light curtains, and position sturdy opaque screens between the window and yourself. Sturdiness is crucial as winds can send a screen crashing down in your room, smashing ornaments and itself.
2. Solar Skylights
If you are a sun worshipper, then by all means throw your windows and doors open to the wind, and consider installing a Solar Skylight too. It’s an electricity-saving device that helps draw hot air out through your ceiling and roof via a flexible tube, and also lets sunlight and fresh air in while being unobtrusive in appearance.
However, it is feasible mainly for houses, and only single-storey ones or for the top floor of two- or three-storey houses.
3. Insect Problems
Letting fresh air circulate freely may mean that some undesirable guests like mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches blow in with the breeze too.
Well designed insect screens let air in and keep bugs out, but those that are woven too densely may keep air out too, so install with caution. Put them up over the windows of just one room first and see how it goes before you do the whole house.
A slightly old fashioned but pretty alternative is a white lace screen that is attached firmly to your window frame. Do ensure that you and the store you buy the material from devise a way of removing or parting them with minimal fuss for cleaning and access to your windows.
4. Busted By Dust
A constant breeze blowing through your home also introduces dust, depositing it in corners and on your furnishings. The above mentioned insect and lace screens can limit this problem somewhat, but not completely as dust particles are microscopic.
Other than getting a good vacuum cleaner or an industrious housekeeper, or creating dust traps like pools and ponds between your house and the wind, there is not a whole lot you can do to fight dust if you want air to enter freely.
To a certain extent, dust is minimized if your home is on a high floor—insect don’t come that thick and fast either.
So do let fresh air into your home, but be aware it’s not always a breeze!
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