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How to Survive the Heat Without an Air Conditioner
By TheDailyGreen.com

With much of the U.S. experiencing a summer heat wave, everyone's thinking about cooling off. While the modern office, and 84% of U.S. homes use air conditioners (learn how to spend less while using yours), we can all save money by using them less; after all, the typical U.S. home spends 17% of its annual energy bill on cooling – about $375.

We can all save energy, too, which on the hottest summer days can have an immediate payoff: avoiding an electricity blackout caused by an overloaded power grid.

1. Close your windows
It may seem counterintuitive, but opening the windows will often make your home warmer, not cooler. Open your windows at night if the air outside is cooler than inside, and close them – along with blinds and shades – before the sun hits your house in the morning. This will allow cool night air to circulate, and prevent a good deal of the sun's heat from reaching indoors. You may also put houseplants – particularly larger potted trees – in front of sunny windows to absorb some of the sun's energy. It's cheap and easy to make your own solar screens.

2. Use fans strategically
Here are three ways fans can help:
Ceiling fans can create a pleasant breeze to cool a room significantly. Be sure that you have the fan running in the right direction since ceiling fans can also be used in winter to create an updraft: in the summer, you should feel the breeze blowing down. And remember, ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so turn it off when you leave the room. If you're buying new ceiling fans, make sure you buy Energy Star ceiling fans that use 50% less energy than comparable models – a choice that will pay off in the long run, as you can appreciate the longer you keep your fan running.

Stand-alone fans placed directly in front of you, it's no surprise, help keep you cool. Add in a spritz bottle and you can dramatically change your temperature; as the water evaporates off your skin, your body sheds heat.

A DIY wind tunnel is the third option; if there's a cool breeze, particularly at night, set one fan facing in on the side of your home facing the wind, and another facing out on the opposite end of the house. You'll maximize the cooling power of a natural breeze. Try these seven simple ways to save energy (and money).


3. Cook (or don't) a cool meal
Just as drinking a nice cold cocktail cools your body, eating cold food helps keep your internal temperature lower on a hot day. One great option: Watermelon and Cherry Salad with Fresh Mint Syrup. If you do cook, use the grill or the microwave, or else you'll heat up your kitchen from using the oven and stove. Get more delicious recipes for hot days.


4. Shut off the lights
While modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient, incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. Energy Star-rated light bulbs produce 75% less heat, so consider that when replacing bulbs. It's always a good idea to shut off lights to save energy, it makes a big difference on hot sunny summer days. The same goes for many electronics, so consider unplugging any device that isn't needed (even in standby mode, many electronics remain hot). Once they burn out, recycle your spent CFLs safely.

5. Go for a swim or take a cold shower
It may sound obvious, but it's worth saying: If you're hot, cool it off by immersing yourself in cold water. The immediate refreshment works immediately by cooling your core temperature. And unless there's 100% humidity, the evaporation of water off your skin will further cool you. For a short cut, use water and ice cubes to keep your wrists cool; since your blood vessels are so close the skin there, you'll feel cooler by applying cold directly to your blood. Check out these stunning natural swimming pools.

6. Plant a tree (or two or three) strategically
Your house gets hot because the sun beats down on it relentless on hot summer days. Let nature help reduce your energy bills by planting deciduous trees on the east and west sides of your home; in the summer, their broad leaves will shade your house, while in the winter, bare branches won't stop the sun's warmth from reaching your walls. Also consider planting trees or shrubs to shade high-heat areas – air conditioning units that emit heat, for instance, and driveways and walkways that absorb it. These vertical gardens are amazing and useful.

7. Install attic insulation
While attic fans may not help significantly to cool your home, attic insulation can help a lot. Insulation keeps cooler air in your home from escaping through the ceiling. If you have central air, also seal ducts – especially at vents and registers, where you could be losing up to 20% of you cooled air. Do the work this year to take advantage of a tax credit covering up to 30% of the cost of insulation, up to $1,500. Give yourself a home energy audit.

8. Install awnings
Just as window shades and shrubbery work to shield your home from the sun's rays, awnings can cut down on the heat your house absorbs. This is an investment to make if you like the look. Learn how design choices can help naturally cool your home.

How are you keeping cool this summer?

More from TheDailyGreen.com:
30 Ways to Get Your Kids to Play Outside
America's 10 Most Walkable Cities
DIY Organic Baby Food
30+ Surprising Ways to Save Money by Going Green
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-garden/articles/archive/shine-thedailygreen/1976620