Staying Cool in the Heat
Reflective window film keeps the sunlight out, so your interior won’t heat up. It’ll drop the temperature a little bit, saving you money on your air conditioning. In the winter, it’ll keep the heat inside, too. The film should be applied to south-facing windows, and east-facing windows that get the morning sun.
Gila brand makes a window film that you can apply to your hottest windows to reflect the light away. You apply it by cutting the sheet to size, peeling off the backing, wetting the adhesive on the film, and sliding it into place. The cost is around $50 for your first large window or two medium sized windows, because you’ll want to get an installation kit in addition to the film. Additional rolls of film are $35 or so. Available at hardware stores.
Close the Windows During the Day
Most people open windows and run a fan. Don’t do it. Open the windows at night, to let in the cool air, and close them in the morning. The cool air will stay trapped in the home for several hours. The last area to get hot will be in the center of the space. If that’s a room, you can use the room as a “getaway” from the heat.
When the interior temperature is higher than the exterior, you should point one fan outward, into the open air. This will create suction in the rest of the space to pull in cooler air from outside.
Get Shades for Your Home and Car
If you can, install pull-down shades. They completely block out the sun. Don’t put them on all the windows – just use them on the ones that get the sun streaming in. Your goal is to prevent sunlight from hitting the floor. When it hits the floor, it heats it, and then the floor heats up the room.
Also, for your car, get one of those fold-out screens to keep the dashboard cool. It really works. Also, if you park your car at work, try to find a spot that will have shade in the afternoon. Those spaces will be the ones that have sunlight during the morning.
Freeze Water Bottles
Don’t toss your old water bottles. Refill them part-way, and freeze them, and drink the melted water.
Turn Off Your Pilot Lights, Air Dry Your Clothes
Turn off the pilots on your gas range, and use a match. Turn off the pilot on the dryer if you have an older one. You should be air-drying your clothes anyway. During a heat wave, air drying is nearly as fast as a dryer.
