Extreme heat seems set to have become the new norm for us Aussies. The recent heatwaves broke weather records, especially here in Penrith where we saw the mercury climb as high as 46.9. Luckily for us, though, we managed to avoid the blackouts that hit other areas. But it could so easily have been us who were left without the comfort of air conditioning, fans or even cold water from the fridge. And when you consider that we’re usually the ones with the highest number on the nightly weather map (as well as our friends over in Richmond), it’s scary. What’s really frightening is that our hottest summer on record is unlikely to be a one-off. This means that all of us – from entire families through to the elderly – will no longer be able to classify things like air conditioning as a ‘luxury’. It’s becoming an essential, but … Continue reading The solar benefits of a sunburnt country