How do you beat the heat?

Since record highs scorched the Northwest a couple days ago I thought it might be wise for us to share tips on how to beat this heat! Without air conditioning here at home, I have a little routine I go through. Each morning and night I make sure to allow as much outside cool air in. It's a well choreographed show in which I try and maximize the free cool air from outside while avoiding opening some windows too wide for fear that Colby will knock himself out the screened window. It's happened before. Seriously.

It works relatively well but not so much when it's still 70° in the morning. Wouldn't it be great if transportation where free and shipping cost nothing? Then we could just borrow AC units from folks in the southern hemisphere while they are in cooler weather. Time share, cross hemisphere, air conditioning may be the wave of the future people!

So how do you beat the heat? Inflatable swimming pool? Sleep in the office? Chew winterfresh gum? Whatever your ideas, here's to staying cool!

Comments (7) | To Top

6/28/2006 @ 8:44am

I'm with you on the ritual of opening & closing windows. I grew up in So Cal in a house without air conditioning, and that's what we did all summer long...although it's taken me several years to get used to the differences in heat timing.

In So Cal, it starts getting hot around 9am and starts cooling off around 4:30 or 5. Whereas here it stays cool until almost noon, but doesn't cool off until 7 or 8 pm!

Monday I was teleworking, so I spent the afternoon & early evening in an air conditioned coffee shop.

Being near, if not in, the water also seems to help. As does finding a spot with a good breeze in the shade.

Oh, and leaving OFF the computers...we have a room that stays relatively cool all day long, unless there's a computer on, and then it's as hot & stuff as anywhere else in the house!

by Elaine

6/28/2006 @ 8:57am

We do the window thing a bit, but our ceiling fans have been our saving graces. Plus, the standing fan in our bedroom which is usually on to keep the air moving and for white noise but lately has helped with cooling as well. Except for Monday night! Monday was so hot there was no way we could sleep in our second floor bedroom - just changing into pajamas caused you to break a sweat. So we grabbed our pillows and slept in the basement family room. Every summer the basement becomes the best feature of our house!

by Angela

6/28/2006 @ 10:12am

I like the telecommute from a cool coffee shop idea, Elaine. I could easily see my wife trying that one out.

I would sleep in a basement if we had one but don't think the creepy-crawly crawl space would be as comfortable. Hot day basement slumber party at Angela's!

by KevinFreitas

6/28/2006 @ 2:45pm

Hi Kevin, here is an interesting How TO as seen on MAKE (Click my Awesome Name for the link). Volcano Proof Window Drapes

by Richard Ryan Anderson

6/28/2006 @ 6:01pm

It's called central air conditioning. It was worth every cent of the $2000 I spent putting in a 2 ton unit. But since my house is newer it already had the duct work. But, I grew up in the South where it is not only hot in summer but humid. Attic fans and window fans and water coolers did the trick for us and heavy insulation in the attic. I used to also go outside and spray down the walls and roof on 100 plus days. It worked.

by Momquote

6/29/2006 @ 3:54pm

1. Window fans in the upstairs windows blowing air out. Curtains and shades drawn to keep the sun out of rooms when we're not in them.

2. A small plastic pool in the backyard with two lawn chairs sitting in the middle for those after-work moments.

3. Gin and tonic.

by Derek

7/1/2006 @ 10:36am

We open windows, but shut the blinds (especially if the sun is hitting them). Since we're both at work all day, we do this when we get home, veg and drink lots of water. Air conditioned car rides are nice, too, as are coffee shops or bookstores. :)

by Roxy

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