by T. S. Love

Created on: July 13, 2010

The three best ways to beat the summer heat without wasting money on air conditioning are to cool your working area, cool your body outsides, and cool your body insides.

To cool your working area, it helps to plan ahead. Open the windows at night when the air is cool and close them before the sun starts to beat down through them. Keep the shades on the sunny side of the building closed during the hot part of the day and use a fan to move air flow from the coolest areas to the hottest. Avoid using excessive lamps or appliances – not only ovens but even things like computers put off their own heat. I could probably cook an egg next to my laptop.

Instead of using an air conditioner to cool the whole house, consider using a swamp cooler or fan to cool just the portion you use the most. If you spend all your time in one room, close it off and cool just that room with an energy efficient window unit, either traditional a/c or swamp cooler.

If possible, try to pick a house with trees or something between you and the morning sun. More immediately practical options would include erecting shade structures over that side of the building, if landlords and neighbors allow. This could be anything from tarps and tapestries to garden structures and climbing vines.

To cool your body outsides, wear wet clothes and sit in front of a fan. No kidding. My favorite trick to beat the summer heat at night is to take a very large, very thin towel and dampen it with cold water, wringing out the excess. I then use it for a blanket with a box fan blowing right over it and me. Stays cool all night. I imagine a sheet cut in two might work just as well, but you'd want to keep from getting tangled up in it and trapped.

Similar thing with wet clothes and wind. Take a shower or jump in a creek or pool, get your clothes wet, then go for a bike or car ride, preferably in the shade. You'll be dry in less time than you think, but hoses are free and often handy for needed refills. Simply rinse and repeat. This works best with thin materials like spandex and cotton that aren't super absorbent. Wearing wet terrycloth, denim, or leather just sucks.

Never underestimate the effectiveness of a good personal hand fan. While we're at it, consider your personal sun shade system. Just as trees can shade a house, so too can an umbrella or parasol shade your body. Keep it between you and the sun. You should be able to see the umbrella shadow covering your body shadow on the ground. Hats can also help keep

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>