Each summer, the heat in Western Sydney seems to get worse. When temperatures climb into the 30s and 40s, it can be hard to keep your home cool and comfortable. Extreme heat doesn’t just make us uncomfortable – it can affect our health, happiness, and overall wellbeing.
The good news is there are simple, low-cost ways to stay cool. These tips come from community housing residents who know what works:
- Stay inside during the hottest part of the day
- Wear loose, light clothing
- Close blinds and curtains to block out the sun
- Cover windows to keep heat out
- Use a fan to circulate air
- Place a moist towel on your ankles and wrists to cool down
These small steps can make a big difference in keeping you and your family safe during heatwaves.
About the Western Sydney Heat & Social Housing Project
The Western Sydney Heat & Social Housing Project was launched in January 2021 to improve tenants’ resilience to extreme heat by educating them on ways to cool down their home and manage their health during heat waves. It is a collaboration between community housing providers Link Wentworth Housing, Hume Housing and Evolve Housing (and their residents), and Penrith and Hawkesbury Councils. Research shows that Australian summers are getting hotter, making heat resilience an increasingly important issue, especially for many community housing tenants who may not be able to afford air conditioning.
