How to Keep Cool without Air Conditioning in a Heat Wave

Check out nine great tips on staying cool in hot summer weather.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on July 06 2010

In most of the US, temperatures are up in the 90s or even higher right now. Stepping outside—or even staying in an unairconditioned home—can be a miserable, miserable experience. So if you’re one of the unlucky ones without AC this summer, or if you’d rather be eco-friendly and not waste electricity unnecessarily, here are some tips on how to make the hot weather more tolerable.

Get awnings for your windows. The Department of Energy estimates that they can reduce the rise in temperature from the sunshine by as much as 77 percent.

Put in some mini-blinds or white window shades. These can cut solar heat gain in half.

When the temperature goes over 78, keep the house sealed shut. You may think it makes sense to open windows, but you’re just letting the heat and humidity in. Shut the doors and use fans instead.

Water is your best friend. Don’t drink coffee or soda drinks—to avoid dangerous dehydration and stay cool, stick to plain old H20, or make yourself a pitcher of refreshing iced tea.

Stick with cool, light meals. Nothing feels worse on a hot day than a too-full stomach, and you definitely don’t want to spend time next to a hot stove. If you’re hungry, try a salad or wrap, or a cold soup like gazpacho.

Splash cold water on your wrists and forehead. By cooling down your pulse points, the rest of your body will drop in temperature, too.

Wear light clothing. Stick with light fabrics like cotton and linen. Light colors will also absorb less of the heat, keeping your body cooler.

Camp out. If you have a private yard, why not spend the night outdoors in a tent? The air’s bound to feel cooler, and if you’ve got kids, they’ll love the change of scene.

Safety tip: Don’t leave people or animals in parked cars, even for a minute. It might seem easier to leave your dog or your child in the car for just a moment while you run into a store, but on hot summer days, such decisions could prove deadly.

And hey, if you work at an air-conditioned office, now’s the time to count your blessings—and maybe even work a little late.

Filed under: General Interest, Health and Wellbeing,

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