With summer here, you may find yourself reaching for the air conditioning more and more. But did you know that while air conditioning may cool your house, it’s warming our planet? Electricity is produced from fossil fuels, and air conditioning units use a lot of it. This contributes to climate change! However, with a bit of creativity, there are plenty of ways to stay cool without turning on your AC unit! Read on for ways to keep your cool this summer:

 

LA Cooling Centers

During periods of excessive heat, the City of Los Angeles will open free-of-charge cooling centers. Libraries and Recreation and Parks facilities are cooling centers, with Recreation and Parks facilities open to residents and their pets. LA’s DASH buses offer transportation to cooling centers. You can learn more here.

 

Stay hydrated

Sweating is your body’s natural cooling system, but you need to drink water to be able to sweat! Be sure to stay hydrated in order to perspire and lower your body’s core temperature. Drinking water is the best way to hydrate, but not the only way. Snacking on seasonal, water-rich foods like strawberries, cucumbers, and watermelon can also help you hydrate. 

 

Cover it up!

By covering your windows during the day, you can reduce the heat in your home up to 77%! Sunlight coming in from southern and west-facing windows can contribute to house heating significantly. Stop the light with medium-colored curtains or shades to prevent warming and reduce heat gains by up to 33%. Blinds are another good option for preventing heat gain which, unlike shades, can be adjusted for glare throughout the day.

 

Use fans wisely

To create a cooling effect, fans need to rotate counter-clockwise to move the hot air up and out. Make sure that your ceiling fan is moving in the right direction the next time you turn it on. Also, consider positioning box fans in your windows to blow out hot air at night. If that’s not cool enough for you, a well-positioned bowl of ice in front of a fan is all you need to have your own makeshift cooler. 

 

Cool Off With Cool Water

At home, try taking short lukewarm or cold showers to refresh yourself. If you have a bathtub, consider keeping it filled with cold water to take a quick dip throughout the day and cool down. Feeling too hot at night? Prepare a makeshift ice pack by freezing water bottles or wet dish towels and placing them under your neck, back or feet. And don’t forget the City of LA’s public pools and aquatic centers. A list of them can be found here. 

 

Give Your Appliances The Afternoon Off

Appliances may be the culprit for heat gain in your home. Try to avoid running large appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers and ovens during the heat of the day or at all if possible. Consider washing dishes by hand or grilling outside to keep heat out of the home. You can also hang damp laundry near doors and windows to not only dry your clothes but to cool and moisten entering air as well. 

 

Stop, Drop, and Cool

It’s common knowledge that heat rises. To avoid as much heat as possible, try sleeping as close to the ground as possible — whether that means moving to a lower level of your house or simply placing your mattress on the floor. This will help you get under the heat and have a good night’s rest.

 

Turn the lights out

If you’ve tried all of the tips above and your residence is still hot, check your lightbulbs. Incandescent light bulbs produce a lot of heat, which may be your problem. Keep the lights off as much as possible throughout the day to lower the temperature. This will not only help cool your home, but also save you money on energy costs!

 

Switch up your wardrobe

One of the smartest ways to stay cool in the summer is to change your clothing. Ditch your spandex and polyester clothes in favor of lightweight, natural fabrics like cotton or linen. Wear clothing that won’t stick to your body like loose t-shirts, moisture-wicking shirts, dresses or skirts to not overheat. 

 

How do you keep your cool when things heat up here in LA? Send us an email at lastormwater@lacity.org and we’ll share your tips on our social media channels.