While some like it hot outside, indoors most of us prefer to stay comfortable and cool. If you’re tired of living in an oven or tossing and turning all night, here’s some good news: keeping cool can be easier than you think. Just ask yourself these questions and we’ll step you through the best cooling system for your house.

• Have I insulated my house?
• Is my climate humid?
• Is my climate dry?
• What size is the room or rooms I want to cool?
• How much do I want to spend?
• Should I just escape to the movies or take up indoor ice-skating?

Heatproofing your home

First things first: you’ll waste money and energy using cooling devices if heat is pounding through your windows and roof. A well-insulated home can be up to seven degrees cooler in summer and save you as much as $300 a year in reduced energy costs — pretty good benefits.

Start by insulating your roof. It’ll cost from about $500 for a small home (which you’ll recoup within two years thanks to reduced energy bills).

And by shading your windows from the outside, you can reduce heat in your home by up to 80 per cent. Consider adding awnings, pergolas or shade cloths; even planting deciduous trees (the ones that shed leaves in autumn and winter) will help cool your place. You can install exterior blinds and awnings yourself with a minimum of hassle. Haberdashery and hardware stores have outdoor roll-up blinds that are easy to install.

On the inside, use blinds or curtains to keep summer heat out and cool air in. Try the Ikea Lindmon Venetian blind range, from $39 to $149. But be aware that blinds and curtains will never be as effective as external shading because the heat from the sun has already made it inside.

What rooms do you need cooled and how large are they

Room size is a crucial factor in choosing an airconditioner. If you buy one that’s too large for the space, you could waste hundreds of dollars and actually end up with less comfort.

Why? Super-sizing your airconditioner causes excessive temperature swings. “The temperature gets too hot and the airconditioner comes on, but by the time the airconditioner shuts off, the house is too cold,” explains airconditioning engineer Clive Blanchard.

“Plus, an oversized airconditioner won’t dehumidify properly — very important in humid areas like Sydney and Brisbane. And a too-small airconditioner is just a waste of money.” In addition to room dimensions, other factors to take into account include window size, insulation and climate.

Top 3 cooling devices

If you’ve done all you can to heatproof your home but still need help, here are three main cooling systems to consider:

1. Fans (portable and ceiling)

These don’t cool the air but create air movement, which evaporates perspiration from your skin, making you feel cooler. Fans are by far the cheapest cooling option. Expect to pay a qualified electrician about $120 to install your ceiling fan. You could do it yourself, but you’re likely to forfeit any warranty if the work is not done by a recognised professional.

2. Evaporative coolers

These work by drawing hot air over a water-moistened filter, and cooling by evaporation — best for dry inland areas, not recommended for humid, coastal areas. Portable models range from $100 to $1200.

3. Airconditioners

These work by refrigerating air. Choose from four main types: portable, wall/window (a single unit that can be installed in a wall or window), split system (two parts: a wall unit that blows chilled air and a noisy compressor you can banish outside) or ducted (installed in your roof cavity, with ceiling vents that deliver cooled air to individual rooms). Airconditioners start at about $800, going up to about $6000 (for ducted systems). If it’s a permanent system then you’ll have to factor in installation costs of about $500-$600.

Running costs

Least expensive cooling options

Fans and evaporative coolers; averaging about 1 to 2 cents per hour, comparable to a light bulb.

More expensive choice

Airconditioning costs can vary widely, but a single-room, wall-hung airconditioner can cost you anywhere from 6 to 30 cents per hour.

How to keep airconditioning costs down

Look for a unit with a good energy rating (as you would for a fridge). The more stars the better.

Choose one with an inverter: standard air conditioners cycle on and off, but an inverter starts to slow down the cooling when it senses the room is close to the right temperature. You’ll use less energy and keep your room at a more even temperature.

Every degree cooler you set your airconditioner to in summer can increase running costs by up to 15 per cent.

Is your system ducted? Make sure it’s well insulated — ask your supplier. Opt for “zoning” so you’re only cooling the areas you’re using — living areas by day, bedrooms by night.

Eco impact

Every time you flick a switch in your home, you’re producing greenhouse-gas emissions because most of Australia’s electricity is produced by coal-fired power stations.

So, ironically, if we over-aircondition our homes, we may be making our planet hotter, because greenhouse-gas emissions are the biggest cause of global warming.

Most eco-friendly: ceiling fans and portable fans use as little energy as a light bulb. Evaporative coolers are comparatively low energy users, but need water.

The best thing you can do is start with a well-designed house, and new building regulations will ensure new homes meet energy-efficiency standards.

For more great ideas and practical solutions for your home see http://www.reallivingmag.com.au/