As climate change makes heatwaves more dangerous, here’s how homeowners can mitigate extreme heat

• Change by Degrees offers life hacks and sustainable living tips each Saturday to help reduce your household’s carbon footprint
• Got a question or tip for reducing household emissions? Email us at changebydegrees@theguardian.com

When the summer sun hits the west-facing windows of our 20th floor apartment in Melbourne, my resistance to switching on the air-con soon wilts.

This generally happens about 4pm, soon after we’ve lost access to cheap electricity under our solar sponge tariff.

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