Tips to Beat The Summer Heat
We are only a few days into summer and thermostats are already off the charts here in New England. Someday I will own land and build an eco-friendly Blu home with clerestory windows and sun shades, but for now, I rent a sweet little apartment on the 3rd floor of an old Victorian. It is oozing with New England charm and like many old homes it does not have A/C. Most of the season this is perfectly fine, but on a week like the one we just had, when temps hit 92 degrees and the air is thick with humidity, it can be rather challenging. Here are my tips for staying cool without straining your wallet—or the environment—by investing in an A/C:
1. Draw your blinds. I am a sun lover so this one can be hard for me to do, but keeping your shades and curtains closed during the day helps to keep excessive heat from getting in in the first place.
2. Close your windows during the hottest parts of the day. Ditto.
3. When the sun goes down, open your windows and use a box fan or two to help cool things down. Box fans are an easy and inexpensive way to cool down your home, but you must be strategic about their usage otherwise all you will do is circulate hot air and make your space even more uncomfortable. First, get a fan big enough to fit your window. Then, put the fan in your window sill and close the window as tightly as possible around it so that it stays in place. For the first hour or so, position the fan so that the warm air from your home is blowing out. This will help to relieve your space from stagnant air. Then turn the fan around so that it faces inward and start drawing the cool air in. Believe it or not, I use just one box fan for my entire space but I also have abundant windows and get great cross breezes. Ventilation is the name of the game here.
4. Turn off your TV, Computer, and other Electronics. Nix the kindle and open a book. And remember, electronics emit small amounts of heat even when not in use. So why not fully “unplug” when you are relaxing at home?
5. Do your laundry early in the morning or late at night. Your grandmother was right. Major appliances are best used during the cooler parts of the day. If you have the yard space, hang your clothes on a line and let them dry naturally. They will look cleaner, smell fresher and your electric bills will drop dramatically—a win-win all around.
6. Wear light, loose clothing. Have you ever traveled to the Mediterranean during the peak of summer and wondered why no one other than tourists is wearing shorts? Loose fitting and light colored clothing breathes and helps to draw moisture and heat away from your body. Natural fibers such as linen, flax and light cotton are all good choices.
7. Stay hydrated. Water is your body’s best friend. Drink it!
8. Eat seasonally. It is no accident that leafy greens, cucumbers and berries are all in full swing. They are extremely cooling foods. If you visit your local farmers market, you will see that nature is wise and provides us with exactly what we need to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
9. Save your breath and stop talking about how hot it is. All you will do is make yourself hotter—and crankier. Trust me, you will be wishing for days like these come January.
10. Stock your freezer full of popsicles. Okay. So maybe this one shouldn’t be on the list, but is there anything more refreshing than a lime popsicle on a hot summer day? 
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