Why is air conditioning so common abroad and in our cars, but not in British homes

A.� Basically because of cost. Installing a fully integrated air conditioning system into a home or office will set you back around �20,000. Let's face it, in this country we may moan and groan when we get the odd summer heatwave, but we don't get the sustained high temperatures that, unless you're rich, make it worth splashing out that kind of money. There are cheaper alternatives, however. Most DIY stores now sell portable air conditioning units for under a grand, which can cool a room within minutes.

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Before you buy, calculate the cubic capacity of the room where you will use it most - roughly the width of the room by its height - and make sure the unit is capable of cooling the space. Many come with thermostatic controls, which will shut the unit off when the air reaches the desired temperature, saving electricity, and some have timers, particularly handy if you want to run it in the bedroom last thing at night.

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A. The most effective form of blinds are window shutters, which are also increasingly chic. Exterior shading is always more effective than interior shading. You just have to think of houses in France, Spain or Greece to realise how important shutters are to keeping�a house cool on the continent. The trick is to make sure that you put them over windows before temperatures get too high, usually mid to late morning. Any later and the sun, magnified by the window glass, has already overheated the room. Many have adjustable slats, which allow some light in while still shading out most of the heat.

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A. If you know it is going to be hot, open up the windows in the morning and then in the evening when the air outside is cooler than outside. Opening them in the middle of the day just replaces hot air with more hot air. As heat rises, it is a good idea to open windows at the top of the house towards the end of the day to let it escape.

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