Ways to beat the summer heat without AC
- Close your blinds – cool down by preventing the sunlight from coming in with exterior shutters, rolling blinds, or curtains.
- Buy a hot water bottle – In the summer, stick a hot water bottle in the freezer to create a “bed-friendly ice pack.”
- The “so-called Egyptian method” – dampen a sheet or towel in water and use it as a blanket.
- DIY Air Conditioning – Position a shallow pan or bowl full of ice in front of a fan. “The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist.”
- Pulses – To cool down fast, apply a cold compress to pulse points, such as the “wrists, neck, elbows, groin, ankles, and behind the knees.”
- Turn off the lights – All light bulbs give off heat! Keep rooms cool after dark by using lights minimally, or not at all.
- Unplug at night – Disconnect electronics; small appliances give off heat, even when turned off.
- Grains – Rice and buckwheat can keep you cool on hot nights. For a cold compress fill a sock with rice, tie it off, and stick it in the freezer for an hour or so.
Written by Teddi Shapiro, class of 2019
Photo thanks to Pixabay