August 2011- Beat the HEAT

Seven tips to stay Coooooool

#1- Stay HYDRATED!! The best way to beat the heat is to stay hydrated with water. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and lots of sugar whereas these will cause an increase in dehydration.

#2- Eat less and eat more hydrating foods: In conjunction with staying hydrated, try foods that will hydrate you like watermelon and vegetables. Eating less will keep you hydrated. The bulky burger will make you feel sluggish and is harder to digest than a light salad.

#3- Block the Sun: Closing your curtains and blinds can reduce the amount of heat into your home by 45%. Another trick is hanging a damp sheet in your open window so when the breeze comes and cools by the evaporating water.

#4- Give your AC some TLC: Make sure you clean or replace your air filter once a month during the summer time. Also, get a thorough central air-conditioning check for leaks which can limit the efficiency by 15%. If it's not too humid out, place a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan and enjoy the breeze. (If the AC isn't cutting it as quick as you like, keep a spray bottle of water for a quick spritz!)

#5- Fan Strategically: If the day's heat is trapped inside your home, try a little ventilation at night or when the temperatures drops below 77. Try a window fan; face the blades outside to suck warm air out of the house and pull cooler air in.


#6- Run the fan and the AC simultaneously: Run #4 and #5 to your benefit. Use the AC at lower power and still feel cool if the fan is blowing over you. The science behind this trick: AC removes humidity from the air while the fan evaporates sweat from your body.

#7- Shut down life for a moment: Let your notebook and computer take a nap. Put them in sleep mode to reduce the energy bill and give off less heat.  Also, grill out to give your oven a break (and reduce more heat in your home). AND, shut the lights in your home (or change the light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs which produce 70% less heat)