It’s a new month, so it’s time for a new experiment. Last month the task at hand was to track my expenses and then analyze them with the goal of creating a budget. This I did with moderate success.
This month, the test will be one of will, physics and heat tolerance.
It’s getting hot in my apartment, and I have neither an air conditioner nor the money to afford one (even a cheap one - they run around $100. And I’d probably need two of them to cool my 500ish square-foot apartment, and one of them would probably cost more than $100 because I’d need a bigger unit for my larger room).
Nor could I pay the electric bills associated with cooling an apartment - even a small one like mine.
(I can’t find any info on how much it would cost to run a couple of window air conditioners all summer long, but I’m assuming it’s at least $10 a month, and probably more. That is a completely uninformed guess, so don’t take my word for it…)
So it comes down to this: Without an air conditioner, can I keep my home at a temperature comfortable enough to avoid heat exhaustion (both for me and my cat)?
My hypothesis is that I can - at least as long as the temps remain in the 80s. I have no idea what I’ll do in upwards-of-90-degree weather (I mean, other than sweat through my clothes) but let’s worry about that later.
In the meantime, to maintain some small amount of comfort, here is my plan:
The sun is the enemy of the cool
As much as I adore the bright summer sun, its searing rays can turn a well-lit room into an oven, especially if you have east- or west-facing windows like I do.
According to a fact sheet (PDF) from the Southface Energy Institute, heat from the sun can increase air conditioning bills by more than 30 percent. Meaning sunlight makes a room way hotter.
Their advice: Close window shades and shutters during the day to block the sun’s rays and, in turn, cool your apartment.
(Sidenote: Minor problem for me is that I have a fair number of plants, and they need sun, so I can’t really close all the blinds. Instead I’ll try to concentrate the plants near the smallest windows and leave those blinds open just enough to ensure my plants get sun. Not a perfect solution, but it’s better than nothing.)
Let the night air in - and keep it in
At 11:15 on this beautiful Sunday night, the temperature outside is nearly that of a perfect room: 71 degrees - mild and cozy, and expected to drop further to 62.
Cool air in the summer should be savored, and so I’ve opened my windows to let that air in.
Tomorrow morning (and every morning for the rest of the summer), I will close the windows to trap that cool air and keep the hot air out.
Emphasize air circulation
There’s nothing better than a cool breeze on a hot summer day.
Almost as good is the artificially created circular air flow wrought by a quality ceiling fan when you’re sweating buckets in your ill-cooled apartment. My ceiling fans have been running 24/7 for a few weeks, and will continue to do so for more than a few more.
The reason: Air in motion feels cooler than air at rest, and running a ceiling fan costs less than running an AC unit.
Beware midday cooking (and computing)
Appliances around the house emit heat, so I’ll avoid using my appliances during the hottest hours of the day. If I must use my computer, I’ll take it down the block to the (air-conditioned) Italian eatery that has free wifi.
Stoves and ovens, whose purpose is to heat food, will have a similar impact. I mean, a greater impact. They were made to heat stuff. Obvi.
Stay hydrated and wear thin, breathable, white clothing
I’ll drink water like a marathoner and dress like a Bedouin. Drinking water keeps you from sweating yourself to dehydration, white clothes reflect the sunlight, and loose clothes allow for more air circulation. That means less heat, more health - and more comfort.
On very hot days, cool, wet towels feels good on your neck, and pets enjoy sprawling out on them on the floor.
If all else fails, stick my head in the freezer, or get out of the house
Not the most energy-efficient technique, but it’s better than heat exhaustion and death. If it gets too hot to handle, my cat and I will hop in my Jetta, crank up the AC and go for a drive.
You get the idea. For more advice on how to beat the heat, check out the links below:
<strong>Further reading:</strong>