What can be done to minimize the effects of the heat generated ?
The type of heat generated is radiant or infra-red, it is the same as the sun or a heat lamp. Infra-red light is converted to heat when it is absorbed by someone or something. (Cats are particularly good at this and are therefore often found in the vicinity of an Aga or sunny window.) This means that directly in front of an Aga, where you are exposed to the biggest surface area it will be the warmest. For that reason, avoid locating major work areas, such as sinks, directly in front of an Aga. It is a good idea to maintain a 4 foot space in front of your Aga to allow for two people to pass and be able to open the oven doors safely and freely. Avoid excess incandescent lighting. As mentioned above, it takes only a dozen 100 watt lights to equal the heat output of an AGA. The AGA colours look different under different types of lighting. You may want to experiment with different lights to assess the effects on your colour.
