Heat can have many negative effects on health, including increasing risk of heat exhaustion and cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

One of the ways of reducing the effects of heat on people is to keep their living environment as cool as possible.

This is especially the case at home, where households need to refresh themselves, rest and sleep, and where especially vulnerable people, such as young children, and the elderly, often spend much of their time.

There are a number of factors which influence how to maximise cooling at home. Homes can take all sorts of shapes and sizes.