Latest news with #LesRoberts
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend
We've explained some others way to keep cool without breaking the bank BEAT THE HEAT Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUN-loving Brits are set to enjoy scorching temperatures of up to 34°C today. But as the mercury rises, keeping cool indoors is proving tricky for many. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation Credit: Getty The Met Office has confirmed that large parts of the UK have officially met heatwave criteria. A heatwave is declared when a location experiences three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding 25°C in the north and west, and 28°C in Greater London and the Home Counties. Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation. He said: "Open opposite windows or doors to create airflow. "Place a fan facing outward at one opening to push hot air out, and another fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air in. "This creates a strong cross-breeze." He says this works best in the evening, overnight or early morning, when outdoor temperatures are cooler than indoors. Les added: "The temperature difference enhances airflow, helping fans push hot air out and pull cooler air in. "It's a simple trick that can make a big difference, especially at night when temperatures drop." This cooling hack has already gone viral on TikTok, with user Zilovesscience racking up thousands of views for her demonstration. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend In the clip, Zilovesscience shows her fan pointing outward at an open window, saying: "The key is air circulation. "A fan pointing outward pushes warm, stale air out while pulling cooler air in from shaded areas or other parts of the house." One viewer commented: "Life-saving tip." Before using an old fan during the heatwave, make sure it's clean and functioning properly. Dust on the blades can reduce efficiency and blow particles around, potentially causing congestion if left running overnight. A quick clean will improve performance and help keep your space fresh. For the best cooling results, opt for an oscillating fan, which moves from side to side to circulate air evenly throughout the room. Most fans, even budget options, come with this feature, so check for it when buying a new one. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: UKHSA Other ways to keep cool in the heat Want to keep cool without breaking the bank? Try out these free hacks... Mop the floor Clean the house and keep cool at the same time by mopping the floor. The hack boils down to simple science. The water will absorb heat from the floor when it evaporates - and hey presto, your floor is cooler. It's just like you sweat when it's hot - it's your body's way of keeping your skin cool. TV presenter Kevin McCloud is reportedly a fan of this little-known hack. He told the Radio Times in 2022 that he learned the tip from "little old Italian men" who mopped their stone floors during hot temperatures. Defrost the freezer It may not be top of your list of fun things to do this weekend, but defrosting the freezer is a great way of cooling down. The cold air from the freezer will be a welcome relief, and will circulate around the room, helping to bring down the temperature. Experts estimate that not defrosting your freezer regularly could be costing households as much as £150 a year. So it's a win for your temperature and a win for your wallet too. Closing curtains will stop sunlight streaming through into your property and warming up the inside. The best time to do it is during the hottest parts of the day, between 10am and 4pm. Use this fan trick You can create a DIY "ice fan" by putting a container or bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan. This will make sees the air passing over the ice cooler. This hack isn't the most effective for larger rooms, but can work in smaller rooms like your bedroom. Little-known new build home rule If you live in a new build home, the good news is that it may have been designed to keep below a certain temperature. Building regulations state that bedrooms in new build homes must not exceed temperatures above 26C overnight. That means window and door openings will be designed to close if temperatures start to soar. Unfortunately, you won't benefit if you're not in one of these new builds - but there are other ways to keep cool. For example, you can close the curtains during the day, which will help to keep your home cool into the night.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend
SUN-loving Brits are set to enjoy scorching temperatures of up to 34°C today. But as the mercury rises, keeping cool indoors is proving tricky for many. 1 The Met Office has confirmed that large parts of the UK have officially met heatwave criteria. A heatwave is declared when a location experiences three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding 25°C in the north and west, and 28°C in Greater London and the Home Counties. Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation. He said: "Open opposite windows or doors to create airflow. " Place a fan facing outward at one opening to push hot air out, and another fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air in. "This creates a strong cross-breeze." He says this works best in the evening, overnight or early morning, when outdoor temperatures are cooler than indoors. Les added: "The temperature difference enhances airflow, helping fans push hot air out and pull cooler air in. "It's a simple trick that can make a big difference, especially at night when temperatures drop." This cooling hack has already gone viral on TikTok, with user Zilovesscience racking up thousands of views for her demonstration. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend In the clip, Zilovesscience shows her fan pointing outward at an open window, saying: "The key is air circulation. "A fan pointing outward pushes warm, stale air out while pulling cooler air in from shaded areas or other parts of the house." One viewer commented: "Life-saving tip." Before using an old fan during the heatwave, make sure it's clean and functioning properly. Dust on the blades can reduce efficiency and blow particles around, potentially causing congestion if left running overnight. A quick clean will improve performance and help keep your space fresh. For the best cooling results, opt for an oscillating fan, which moves from side to side to circulate air evenly throughout the room. Most fans, even budget options, come with this feature, so check for it when buying a new one. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: UKHSA Other ways to keep cool in the heat Want to keep cool without breaking the bank? Try out these free hacks... Mop the floor Clean the house and keep cool at the same time by mopping the floor. The hack boils down to simple science. The water will absorb heat from the floor when it evaporates - and hey presto, your floor is cooler. It's just like you sweat when it's hot - it's your body's way of keeping your skin cool. TV presenter Kevin McCloud is reportedly a fan of this little-known hack. He told the Radio Times in 2022 that he learned the tip from "little old Italian men" who mopped their stone floors during hot temperatures. Defrost the freezer It may not be top of your list of fun things to do this weekend, but defrosting the freezer is a great way of cooling down. The cold air from the freezer will be a welcome relief, and will circulate around the room, helping to bring down the temperature. Experts estimate that not defrosting your freezer regularly could be costing households as much as £150 a year. So it's a win for your temperature and a win for your wallet too. Closing curtains will stop sunlight streaming through into your property and warming up the inside. The best time to do it is during the hottest parts of the day, between 10am and 4pm. Use this fan trick You can create a DIY "ice fan" by putting a container or bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan. This will make sees the air passing over the ice cooler. This hack isn't the most effective for larger rooms, but can work in smaller rooms like your bedroom. Little-known new build home rule If you live in a new build home, the good news is that it may have been designed to keep below a certain temperature. Building regulations state that bedrooms in new build homes must not exceed temperatures above 26C overnight. That means window and door openings will be designed to close if temperatures start to soar. Unfortunately, you won't benefit if you're not in one of these new builds - but there are other ways to keep cool. For example, you can close the curtains during the day, which will help to keep your home cool into the night.
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Power engineer shares 'correct' method to use fans cools rooms down much faster
Most UK homes are designed to keep the heat in which makes getting to sleep in the summer especially tricky - one expert has shared the right way to use a fan to help cool down a room much faster A power and cooling engineer has shared the 'correct' way to use your fan to ensure a room cools down much faster and more effectively. As the warmer summer weather continues, and looming heatwaves remain on the forecast, many people are eager to find methods of keeping their homes as cool as possible. Most UK homes aren't equipped for rising temperatures as they're often designed to keep the heat in. Air conditioners still aren't a common feature in many homes, so many turn to using a fan and keeping it going all night long in a bid to get some decent sleep in the sweltering heat. Lots of people look to social media on a quest for answers or tips on better methods to reduce the temperature at home. And one woman caused a stir after sharing a tip from her partner, who works as a power and cooling engineer, on TikTok. In the simple six second tip, a fan can be seen in front of an open window. Over the top of the footage, the woman added the words: 'When he says if we point the fan out the open window, it will cool the room down quicker and he's right'. In the caption accompanying the clip - which has racked up more than 162,000 likes so far - the woman simply penned: 'That's on living with a power and cooling engineer'. Hundreds of people shared their thoughts in the comments section. One person said: 'Bernoulli's principle - fast moving air sucks in even more surrounding air. So pointing it out the window (at a distance) will draw a lot of the air in the room out the window with it'. Another joked: 'Why am I learning more on TikTok than I learned in school?' Someone else shared: 'We only have AC in the living room, that's what we do to redirect the cold into the bedrooms. I thought my boyfriend was crazy too when he said it but it works." Les Roberts, energy expert at Bionic, commented: 'Opening opposite windows or doors allows air to flow through. For even better airflow, you can place a second fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler outside air into the room, creating a strong cross-breeze. 'Positioning the fan to face outward pushes the hot indoor air outside, which helps draw cooler air in from the other opening.' Les continued: 'This method works best when it's cooler outside than inside - usually in the evening, overnight, or early morning - as the temperature difference creates a natural flow of air. 'The temperature gradient enhances the movement of air, allowing the fan to more effectively push hot air out and pull cooler air in, resulting in a more comfortable indoor environment. 'This approach is energy-efficient and can significantly cool your living space without air conditioning by exchanging hot indoor air for cooler outdoor air through natural ventilation enhanced by fans. It's a simple trick that could make a noticeable difference, especially at night, when outdoor temperatures drop.' On the topic of air conditioning, Roberts added: 'On average, portable air-conditioning units cost around £8.40 to run per day, whereas a fan could cost you as little as 71 pence. 'By utilising a fan to its full advantage with this hack and forfeiting air con, households could save nearly £55 a week.'
Tom's Guide
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
This cooling fan hack has gone viral — and it's not as strange as you think
Summer is finally here, and as temperatures reach unbearable temperatures, staying cool in our homes can become a challenge. This is especially the case if you don't have one of the best smart air conditioners, or your AC has suddenly stopped blowing cold air. And while there are plenty of clever ways to beat the heat without AC, this rather unconventional, fan hack has gone viral — and has also baffled social media! So, what is this bizarre fan hack that promises to stay cool in a heatwave? While most of us tend to point our cooling fan into the room, and close our windows, this hack advises to do the complete opposite. TikTok user @tayyyylz, posted a video explaining that instead of pointing a fan into the room as most people do, we should be aiming it out of an open window or door to keep cool. She goes on to explain this clever, cooling trick was advised by her boyfriend who is a power and cooling engineer. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The video clip shows a tower fan pointing towards an open window with the caption, 'When he says if we point the fan out of an open window, it will cool the room down quicker, he's right.' It's not surprising that this TikTok video quickly went viral, racking up over 2.2 million views, and over 300 comments from curious viewers questioning how this actually works. One user questioned, 'Why would you have your windows open if it's hotter outside??', while another commented, 'Works better if you have two fans on opposite ends, one blowing outside air in and the other blowing inside air out.' While this method may seem counterproductive, how effective is this cooling hack? Shark's FlexBreeze Pro Mist is Shark's smartest cooling fan yet. It offers immense versatility, with a portable design (complete with carry handle and even a bag) and can also be converted to a freestanding fan. It's also rechargeable, and features a removable misting attachment for next-level cooling. As much as we love clever hacks here at Tom's Guide, we always do our research, and have called on an expert to confirm (or debunk) such claims. Surprisingly, it's true! And it's all about creating more ventilation, and a better air circulation into the room. 'Opening opposite windows or doors creates a pathway for air to flow through your home – a basic principle of ventilation,' states Les Roberts, energy expert at Bionic. 'For even better airflow, you can place a second fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler outside air into the room, creating a strong cross-breeze. Positioning the original fan to face outward pushes the hot indoor air out, which in turn draws cooler air in from the other opening.' But how would this method work if it's a particularly hot and stifling day? 'It works most effectively when the air outside is cooler than inside, typically in the evening, overnight, or early morning. The difference in temperature (known as a temperature gradient) naturally drives air movement from cooler to warmer areas. This process helps the fans work with, rather than against, natural convection, making your home feel more comfortable with minimal energy use.' Another clever trick is to place a bowl with ice or frozen water bottles in front of your fan. The idea is that if you hold your hand near ice, the air itself feels nice and chilled — like a DIY air conditioner. So if all else fails the next time you're overheating indoors this summer, try pointing your fan out the window instead. What's more, it's completely free!
New York Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Here's why taking a cold shower during a heatwave is incredibly dangerous, experts say
It's getting hot in here. The dog days of summer are here, and NYC is currently experiencing a scorching heatwave with temperatures reaching well into the 100s. New Yorkers are doing everything possible to cool off, which may include jumping into a cold shower — however, experts advise against it. Advertisement New Yorkers are doing everything possible to stay cool this week. fizkes – Serious organ damage can be done if people's core temperature stays high for too long, so a cold shower on an extremely hot day sounds like a sensible way to cool your body down, but in reality, it's not helpful at all. 'Although diving into a cold bath or shower straight after being out in the heat might feel nice on your skin, it isn't doing what is needed to reduce the core temperature of the body,' researchers explained in a study published by The Conversation. Advertisement When taking a chilly shower, blood vessels near your skin constrict, which reduces blood flow to certain areas, causing your body to hold heat in and around your organs — something you don't want to happen. And if the water temp in your shower is borderline freezing, a domino effect happens: your body goes into a 'cold shock response,' which causes the skin's blood vessels to rapidly constrict, which then increases your blood pressure since the heart has to work in overtime mode, as explained by The Conversation. This is bad news for people with heart conditions. Although it's rare, the shocking difference in body temperature, going from hot to cold, can cause an irregular heartbeat and worst-case scenario — can lead to death. Before panic sets in — jumping into a mildly cold pool, shower or bath won't kill you — just be careful not to bring the water to a freezing temp. Advertisement Taking a freezing shower sounds like a great idea torwaiphoto – Expert-approved ways that are actually efficient in keeping your body cool during this treacherous heatwave are to drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol — they can cause dehydration. It's also recommended to avoid wearing dark-colored clothing and keep your blinds and curtains shut to keep the heat at bay. And if you own a fan, a simple hack can help keep your home cool and will save you a few bucks on your electricity bill. Advertisement Les Roberts, an energy expert from Bionic, told the Daily Mail that fans should be pointed out the window instead. 'Opening opposite windows or doors allows air to flow through,' Roberts said. 'For even better airflow, you can place a second fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air into the room, creating a strong cross-breeze.'
