by Kathleen Couch

Created on: August 03, 2011   Last Updated: August 07, 2011

You are sweltering in the summer heat.  Air conditioning is the common cure, but it is not the most environmentally friendly solution.  It taxes the power systems in areas, and could cause a power “brown out” or “black out”.  Air conditioning also is not helpful in keeping the utility bill down, thus adding stress to the family budget.

The best alternative is a temperature under 80, a cool icy drink, a hammock in the shade, and cool ocean breezes.  Don’t have that option? Here are some good alternatives to air conditioning.

Fans are the first line of defense for most people.  Fans come in many shapes and styles, and with varying ability to move the air and cool. Some fans are small personal, hand held varieties that use batteries.  Some are desk top, some floor models, and some window units. Use a fan to blow air across your body to cool you by the moving air.  A window fan can be used with the aid of a breeze to bring in the cooler breeze, and cross ventilate to another fan set to take warm air out. Ceiling fans can be set to distribute the cool air.  An attic fan can have a dramatic effect on cooling the house.

Open windows on opposite sides of the house to cross ventilate.  During the day keep shades down, blinds closed and curtains drawn to help keep the heat out.

Keep unneeded lights off, and ranges and ovens unused, so to not add heat to the area.

A cool iced drink of lemonade will cool you, plus if you press it at pulse points, it adds extra coolness.  Aluminum cups with a drink and ice, are the tops in cooling.

Using ice cubes wrapped in a terry cloth, and pressing this against the inner wrists, back of neck, and forehead, will cool the entire body.

A quick dip in a pool of any size, even a wading pool helps to cool your body. Letting your wet suit or clothes air dry provides additional cooling for your body.

There are many misting systems available now, for outdoor deck or patio use. These are connected with hosing from your outdoor water, and sometimes use a fan in tandem.

If you have a basement, it will be naturally cooler, since it is mostly underground, and cool air sinks.  Retreating to the basement during the hottest days may be all you need.

In many areas, if a basement does not have air, it is necessary to run a dehumidifier to keep the basement free of condensation, and resulting mold. This also adds a cooling effect.

In areas that do not have a lot of humidity, an evaporative cooler can be used in a window, instead of an air conditioner.  It is effective, and less expensive than a typical air conditioner.

New products such as Neck Cooling Wraps, Head Bandanas, Personal Water Misters,  Cool Down Caps, and Cooling Vests use water to help your body stay cooler. Some of these products use the method of freezing the cooler, and some use an evaporative cooling.  Both provide relief for hours, and can be used over again. 

Want to make your own low cost air conditioner?  A video of how to make a homemade air conditioner can be viewed at 5 Minutes.com. http://bit.ly/9efcXe

So, unless you have access to a cool glass of iced lemonade, a hammock in the shade, and cool ocean breezes use the methods above as the second best alternative.

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