How can we stay cool in this unrelenting heat?
Much of the world is facing prolonged, unrelenting heat. That is the new normal in our rapidly warming climate. The Washington Post notes Extreme heat and pollution can double the risk of a fatal heart attack (gift link). Excessive heat is a serious risk.
The British Red Cross (2) has some tips to manage the heat.
- Be sun smart – avoid going out at the hottest parts of the day
- Wetter is better – the more skin you can cool down the better
- Drink plenty of water 💦
- Limit your alcohol – alcohol 🍺 causes dehydration 🥵
- Eat light meals to feel cooler – eat food with high water content such as strawberries 🍓 and watermelon 🍉
- Limit physical activity to cooler parts of the day
- Know the risks – The piece points out the risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- Be aware if you become confused, have headaches, nausea, and muscle cramps (signs of heat stroke, where the body is not able to cool itself). Seek medical attention immediately if you notice the above.
Other sites have mentioned staying in a place with AC. Many places are not equipped with AC. Common places to cool off are libraries, malls, movie theaters, cafes, restaurants and dedicated government cooling centers if you don’t have AC in a pinch.
How do you stay cool while keeping energy bills low?
We have mentioned in previous articles to switch to energy efficient windows, energy efficient doors, heat pump water heaters, solar oanels, and heat pump air conditioners. All of those are moderate to expensive options. They will help in the long run, but not in the short term, brutal heat to stay cool and have low energy bills. The Inflation Reduction Act in the USA has tax credits for all of the above.
- Increase the AC temperature
You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
Energy.gov (3)
- Get a programmable thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.
Energy.gov (3)
- Use a dehumidifier, smartly
Many people don’t know an AC unit combines two functions, transferring hot air from one place to another, and dehumidifying the air. You can replicate part of that function by using a room dehumidifier. The lower humidity makes a space more comfortable.
If used in common areas, you can run a fan and a dehumidifier than running a whole floor or room AC. Air conditioning is energy intensive. Fossil fuel companies love the hot weather, which warms the planet more, requiring more energy to cool a space. Dehumidifiers capture some of the AC benefits while using less energy.
Why does dehumidifier cool the air?
Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture in the air by drawing it in from the outside and cooling it.
Live Science (4)
- Use room or ceiling fans to blow air around
- Avoid running dish washers, laundry washers, dryers, gas stoves, and ovens during the day
All of them generate heat. It may be best to use them earlier in the morning when the outside is cooler.
- Dip your hands and feet into cold water
- Take a cold shower
- Avoid synthetic clothing, these materials can not breathe (5)
- Wear 100% cotton, linen, Jersey, Chambray, Merino wool, and silk (5)
- Switch your light bulbs to LEDs
Incandescent bulbs generate tons of heat as a by product. Same goes for old tv’s like plasma tv’s. Switch to energy efficient options.
- Stay in the shade or under trees, if you have to go outside
- A water splash pond can lower temperatures by almost 50° F / 30°C compared to ambient temperatures
- Watch the paws of pets!
Stay cool and healthy friends! Thanks to our 143 followers for our success. Today we celebrate 8 years from starting this blog. That’s persistence!!
Sincerely yours,
smilingdad
Copyright © 2023 smilingdad. The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by and do not necessarily represent the views of smilingdad, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.
Notes:
(1) Washington Post: Extreme heat and pollution can double the risk of a fatal heart attack https://wapo.st/453CuqM
(2) British Red Cross: Staying cool in summer: Top tips for how to cool in hot weather https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/health-and-social-care/first-aid/beat-the-hot-weather-top-tips-for-staying-cool
(3) energy.gov Programmable Thermostats https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/programmable-thermostats
(4) Live Science Does a dehumidifier cool a room? https://www.livescience.com/does-a-dehumidifier-cool-a-room#
(5) Life Hacker The Worst Fabrics to Wear in Hot Weather https://lifehacker.com/avoid-wearing-these-fabrics-in-the-heat-and-what-to-we-1849013486
smilingdad 