Yahoo Finance 7 Cheap Ways to Survive the Scorching Summer Heat
The air conditioner is turned on full blast, all the fans are on, but you still can't seem to stay cool during the summer heat wave. Fortunately, you don't have to be completely dependent on air conditioning to keep your cool this season. If your energy bills are already burning a hole in your budget, consider these budget-friendly alternatives for surviving those hot summer days and nights.
1. Cool down quickly with a simple ice pack trick. There are several pulse points on your body -- where your blood vessels are close to the skin -- that are especially responsive to an ice pack or cool object. These cooling spots can be activated just by placing an ice pack or cold bottle of water on each spot for a few seconds. Try placing an ice pack on the insides of your wrists, on your neck, on the insides of your ankles and near your temples for a quick cool-down session anytime, anywhere.
2. Stay hydrated. You'll feel more uncomfortable, tired and sensitive to heat when you're dehydrated. Make sure you increase your water intake this summer and even more so if you are active outdoors, hitting the gym regularly or spending time in the sauna. You can beat the heat by drinking cold water and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol. If you have a hard time drinking water throughout the day, use a free smartphone app like Waterlogged to track your daily water intake and get hydration reminders to fill up on a schedule.
3. Lose the heat with heat-blocking curtains and mesh screens. Cover up all windows and glass doors facing the sun with a set of heat-blocking curtains. The Department of Energy recommends hanging medium-colored drapes with white plastic backings to reduce heat by 33 percent. Make sure to hang these as close to the windows as possible, and even consider sealing the drapes on both sides with magnetic tape or Velcro. Another option is to install mesh screens on all sun-facing windows. These can help to diffuse solar radiation, according to the DOE.
4. Sleep on a bamboo mat. Lose the soft mattress this summer in favor of sleeping on the floor -- well, not quite. You can lie down on a thin bamboo mat on the floor with your favorite pillow, or place the mat over a box spring to stay cool throughout the night. The bamboo mat absorbs moisture and reduces body heat. Pick out a high-quality mat that will relax the muscles and massage the body while you sleep for extra benefits.
5. Build up your heat tolerance with hot yoga or sauna sessions. An indirect way to keep cool is to build up your tolerance to heat and humidity so that you don't even need to turn on the fans or air conditioning in your car or home. Start taking hot yoga at your local fitness center so that you get used to moving and breathing in temperatures of up to 90 degrees or more. Log in a few sauna or steam room sessions a week to adapt to the heat and treat your body to a sweat session. The Bikram Yoga Hermosa Beach website point out that long as you are drinking enough water before, during and after your sessions, you will be able to tolerate the heat better.
6. Change up your cooking schedule. Baking and cooking activities can generate more heat in the kitchen and throughout the home, making it that much harder to keep your living areas cool and comfortable. Get into a routine of cooking in batches so you don't heat up your home all day long, or head outdoors to cook up your favorites on the grill.
7. Replace the lights. Incandescent bulbs generate a lot of heat and also consume energy. Make the switch to compact fluorescents or LEDs throughout your home for cooler rooms and a lower electricity bill. A small investment in some high-quality fluorescent bulbs can help you save on lighting costs all year long and make it just a little easier to stay cool and comfortable at home during the summer months.
Sabah Karimi is a columnist for the blog Wise Bread, where you can find consumer tips like how to select the best balance transfer credit cards.
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