Air conditioning
Tropical temperatures outside, a bedroom that's still 27 degrees at midnight: the whole country is looking for a way to cool down. Especially in city homes and apartments — where heat builds up and the walls keep radiating warmth all night — temperatures climb fast. With these tips from our engineers you'll keep a cool head, today and during the next heatwave.
First: free measures that actually work
Before you think about appliances: the biggest gains come from keeping heat out. Sunlight coming in through the glass heats your home like a greenhouse.
- Shade in front of the window. Close screens, shutters or at least the curtains on the sunny side from early morning. External shading works best: it stops the heat before it passes through the glass.
- Windows and doors closed during the day. As soon as it's warmer outside than inside, keep everything shut. Air the house only once it cools down outside.
- Cross-ventilate at night. After sunset, open windows on opposite sides of your home so the cooler night air flows through.
- Switch off heat sources. Oven, dryer, dishwasher and even lighting give off heat. Postpone them until the evening — and run them on your solar surplus.
Fan, portable AC or split AC?
If it's still too warm inside despite all that, you'll want active cooling. The differences between the options are bigger than many people think:
| Solution | Really cools? | Noise | Power use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan | No, only moves air | Moderate | Low | Mild heat, right at your desk or bed |
| Portable AC | Yes, limited | Loud (50-65 dB) | High | Temporary fix for one room |
| Split AC | Yes, powerful | Whisper-quiet (19-30 dB) | Up to 4x more efficient than portable | Structural cooling and heating |
A fan doesn't cool the air — the cooling effect comes from evaporation on your skin, and above 30 degrees that barely works anymore. A portable AC does cool, but has one big drawback: the exhaust hose has to go through an open window or door, letting warm outside air flow straight back in. And you'll hear it all night.
Split AC: cool now, efficient heating later
A fixed split air conditioner cools a room back to a comfortable temperature in minutes, virtually silently — so you can simply sleep with it on. But the real argument lies in the rest of the year: a modern split AC is an air-to-air heat pump that also heats efficiently in spring and autumn. That saves on gas and puts your own solar power to use, exactly as we described in our article on net-metering costs.
The installation is a smaller job than many people think: our engineers usually install a single-split air conditioner within one working day, including neat pipework and commissioning. Note: in warm periods the schedule fills up fast, so don't wait for the next heatwave to book a consultation.
Key takeaways
- Keep heat out: shading closed, windows shut during the day, cross-ventilate at night
- A fan doesn't really cool; a portable AC is loud and inefficient
- A split AC cools whisper-quietly, up to 4x more efficiently — and heats in the shoulder seasons
- Already have an AC? Clean filters = more cooling power and lower power use
Prepared for next summer
Want to know what an air conditioner can do in your home? Our engineers know Amsterdam's housing stock — from 1930s upper-floor apartments to new builds — and give honest advice on capacity, placement and cost. Request a free quote.
