52 Weeks of Impact

I’d like to be able to say that I’m made of tougher stuff. But, I’m now in the outskirts of Washington, DC (built on a swamp, by the way) and am really (really!) enjoying the central air conditioning system at my friends’ home.

But, before arriving (I didn’t come to Washington, DC specifically for the air conditioning, honestly!), I did, as promised, research and test solutions for staying cool without air conditioning. I happy to report that I did, indeed, find some solutions that work, and even work well.

From my research and testing, I’ve amassed quite a list of  top tips. Some of these can also be useful to those who have a/c — they can help keep the house cooler, so less work by your a/c system, less impact on the environment, and less money out of your pocket.

But, first:

What didn’t work for me

• I understand perfectly the principle behind eating spicy food on a hot day. It makes you sweat and the perspiring (and evaporation) cool your body temperature. Though I love spicy foods, this doesn’t work for me in the sweltering heat. I prefer it on a temperate summer eve. The added sweating makes me that much more miserable. I prefer to stick to “cool” foods like fruits, fresh veggies, and chicken or fish prepared simply.
• Similar to other suggestions that I liked (see below), soaking my pants in water, wringing it out and wearing it was, at best, unpleasant. It reminded me too much of my pre-toilet training.

Top Tips for staying cool without air conditioning

To do around the house

• Replace incandescent bulbs with florescent. They put out a lot of heat.
• Close drapes and shades during the day. Keep the windows are dark as possible.
• Turn OFF electronics when not in use.  We’ve covered this issue before as relates to energy consumption, but not only do these “energy vampires” suck up energy when in standby mode, but they also give off heat — heat that you’re having to tolerate.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. They give off an enormous amount of heat.
• Avoid mid-day washing and drying. In fact, with all this heat, try air drying your clothes instead of using the dryer at all.
• In that same vein, air dry your dishes instead of letting it run through the drying cycle.
• Air dry sheets: hang them in front of the windows at night, letting the air pass through the wet sheets.

To do for/to yourself

• Wear light and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Dark colors absorb heat.
• Buy and use a silk or paper folding fan.
• Shower with a peppermint soap, soften your skin with a peppermint lotion. Mint is cooling and refreshing. Many manufacturers now have peppermint product lines. Ones that I’ve tried and like are Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Soap (it’s dreamy, and I’ve seen they have a Peppermint Lotion, too) and Burt’s Bees’ Peppermint Foot Lotion.
• Eat mint candies. I’ve been eating After Eights stored in the freezer. Yummmm!
• Soak your feet in cool water (and eventually add ice cubes).
• Stay out of the kitchen: try to avoid using the regular stove or oven. They generate a lot of heat. If you have to warm anything, use your microwave oven.
• Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetable salads, cold pasta salads, and other light dishes. And, don’t overeat, it will make you feel hotter.
• Make and eat lots and lots of juice popsicles.
• Use a gel pack as a wrist support when working on your computer.  When not working on your computer, wrap them around your wrists. Cooling off these pulse points will make your body feel cooler.
• Water. Drink lots and lots of water.
• Use a fan: moving air feels 4 to 6 degrees F cooler. An oscillating one is particularly nice.
• Soak a tank top in tap water, wring “dry” and wear. Ok, not the fashion statement you may want to make outdoors, but it works fabulously indoors! (Nils is trying this with a wet t-shirt this weekend. A shame I’m not there to see it)
• Do the same with a few bandanas and leave them in the freezer. Take out and hang around your neck as needed.
• Spritz yourself with a fine spray of water and sit with a fan blowing nearby to cool the air.  The combination of the two works wonderfully. As the water evaporated, my skin shed heat. Additional tip from Nils: Add a bit of alcohol to the water. Maybe not the best for the skin, but it sure feels good.

My top combo cooling techniques

All the tips above are helpful, though no single tip provided complete relief.  However, the tips below in combination made for a perfectly comfortable environment. I was certainly not very glamorous, but I was able to sit for several hours in my office concentrating, working and content (wall thermometer indicated room temperature of just over 38 degrees Celsius/101 degrees Fahrenheit). Here’s what I did:

• Wet a tank top, wrung it out, put it on (surprisingly, the tank top was bone dry within a couple of hours).
• used a gel pack as a wrist rest (we have two, so they could be rotated over the several hours).
• Placed a small oscillating fan nearby to blow on/across me.
• Sipped ice water (more ice cubes and water added periodically).
• Using the water spray bottle (normally for ironing), spritzed myself periodically to keep my skin damp.

Longer term solutions to consider

• Install ventilation in your attic. Ventilation reduces the temperature and prevents moisture buildup. Your a/c won’t have to work as hard. Better yet, install quality insulation — by doing so, you could be eligible for a tax credit (in the US).
• Install a programmable thermostat. Set it to start cooling the house before you get home.
• Install inexpensive heat-reflecting film on windows that face the sun.
• Check for leaks. Seal duct leaks with mastic tape, caluk and weatherstrip windows, doors and around pipes.  All could save on energy usage and money.
• Install ceiling fans. As long as you’re installing one, make sure it’s one that can rotate in both directions, to be used in hot and cold weather.
• Install blackout shades or drapes in the rooms facing the sun. These will make an enormous difference.
• Do extra planting of trees and shrubs on the east, west and south sides of your house to block sunlight and cut cooling costs. Shade your a/c unit (leaving enough space for air flow).

Take care of others

• Don’t forget the elderly, kids and animals. Pay attention to local warnings. When temperatures reach a certain level, older persons, children and pets should be watched. Make sure that everyone is well hydrated with plenty of water with limited direct sun exposure. Many of the 30,000 deaths reported during the 2003 heatwave in Europe could have been prevented were people properly hydrated.
• If you have workers doing landscaping or other outdoor work, make sure they get plenty of water and take enough breaks in the shade. Even the healthiest of individuals can succumb to heat exhaustion and sunstroke.
• Never, ever leave a child, elderly person or animal in a car! Even for “a moment.” Doing so could be deadly!