How to beat the heat without relying on air-con.

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How to beat the heat without relying on air-con
Posted by Julie in home on January 21, 2009 | 3 responses

On Monday we talked about keeping our houses cool so we didn’t have to turn on the air-conditioning so often.

When we do turn it on, it’s recommended to keep it at about 24 degrees so we’re not using extra power to turn our houses into fridges. But Australia is just a very hot place, so we’re going to have to come up with alternatives if we are going to try to reduce our reliance on air-con.

Here’s a few suggestions:

* Ceiling fans and pedestal fans help cool you down by moving the air around. If you have one, you can use it instead of air-conditioning, as it’s less power-hungry. Try putting a bowl of iced water in front of a pedestal fan to give it an extra chill.
* Another pedestal fan trick is to use it to get rid of hot air trapped inside your house. The air is pulled from the back of the fan to the front, so if you need to vent in a hurry, point it towards an open window.
* Keep a little spray bottle filled with water in the fridge, and use it on yourself to cool down when you get home, or before you go to sleep.
* Eat a curry or something with a lot of chillies! They make you sweat, which cools you down. It’s worked for people in India and South-East Asia for centuries. Also make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated.
* Sleep in the backyard, if there’s a breeze. We loved doing this when we were kids - sleeping bags on the lawn, stars above.
* Take a cool or lukewarm bath or shower: very relaxing after a long day.

Have you got any other ideas? What did you used to do when you were younger, or what have you seen in other countries where it gets too hot?
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