Now that you have learned various ways to regulate your body temperature during heat, such as staying hydrated, using cold compresses, and even taking cold showers, you have a solid foundation for managing personal comfort in hot conditions. These methods help reduce the immediate physical impact of heat, lowering the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. However, managing body temperature is only one part of the equation.

In this chapter, we will shift our focus to managing the temperature of your living environment, ensuring that the spaces where you spend most of your time remain as cool and comfortable as possible. A cooler home can significantly reduce the overall heat stress on your body, improving your well-being and minimizing the health risks associated with extreme heat.

You will be introduced to a variety of simple, yet effective strategies to keep your living space cool. These include optimizing ventilation, using fans effectively, blocking direct sunlight with curtains or shades, and even creating cross-breezes to promote air circulation. If you do not have access to air conditioning, there are many low-tech, budget-friendly methods to help lower indoor temperatures, such as using reflective materials, placing damp sheets in front of windows, or keeping windows and doors closed during the hottest parts of the day.

Throughout this chapter, both in the text and accompanying videos, you will discover practical tips and tricks that can be easily applied in your home, regardless of the size or design of your living space. The goal is to provide you with a toolkit of solutions, so you can create a more comfortable environment, even during heat waves. By understanding how to manage both your body and your surroundings, you'll be better prepared to handle the challenges of extreme heat with minimal discomfort. 

What options do we have?

On a warm summer day, you start to notice the temperature in your house rising. The air feels heavy, and sunlight is pouring through the windows, making everything feel even hotter. You wonder how you can cool down your home without relying on air conditioning. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple and effective ways to bring the temperature down.

First of all, it's important to block out the sun. This is the most logical method to keep out the warmth. You close the curtains and blinds, especially in rooms that face the sun. This immediately makes a difference, as it stops the sun from directly heating up your living space. But you might ask, What if my curtains aren't enough to keep the heat out? In that case, you could try using reflective window coverings or even aluminum foil to reflect sunlight away from your windows. This can significantly reduce the amount of heat entering your home.

Next, you think about air circulation. You open the windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze, allowing cooler air to flow through. As the air moves, the temperature starts to feel more manageable. But then you wonder, What if it’s too hot outside to open the windows? If the air outside is warmer than inside, it's best to keep the windows closed and use fans instead to keep air moving. In the evening or early morning, when it's cooler outside, you can open the windows again to let the cooler air in.


Electric fans can be your best friend during a heatwave, but they need to be used correctly. You set them to rotate counterclockwise, which pushes air downward and creates a refreshing breeze. This little adjustment can make a room feel several degrees cooler. But what if I don't have a ceiling fan? Don't worry, standing or box fans can work just as well. You can even place a bowl of ice in front of the fan, so the air blows cooler as the ice melts.

Electric fans are devices being used on a large scale, worldwide, to improve thermal comfort. Most of them are easy to use and relatively affordable. Of importance is the fact that, compared to air conditioning, they use up to 50 times less electricity per unit. Another advantage is the possible use of batteries or solar-powered options. Electric fans can easily be moved from one room to another, fe from the living room to the bedroom.

The main principle is to move the air through the space in which they are placed. They are most effective in spaces with low humidity. It should be kept in mind that its cooling effects seem to reduce when people are older, and when people are less able to sweat. In these cases, skin-wetting might help.

Another very important aspect consider the threshold in which fans are effective. Should the indoor-temperature rise above 38°C (healthy people >65 years), or 37°C (in case of vulnerable people >65 years with medical conditions), the use of electric fans is not recommended, since it will raise the body temperature instead of lowering it.





In addition to managing airflow, you can also cool your home with water. You dampen a sheet and hang it near an open window. As the breeze passes through the damp fabric, it cools the air. This is a simple, effective trick. Then you think, What if I don’t have enough windows to create a breeze? In that case, using fans in combination with the damp sheet can still help circulate cooler air.

One of the best ways to keep your house cool is to minimize indoor heat. You decide to avoid using the oven or stove on hot days and instead opt for no-cook meals or grilling outside. But what about the small electronics in your home? Many people forget that unplugging electronics when not in use can reduce heat, as they give off warmth even when they're turned off.

Finally, you consider outdoor shading. You realize that planting trees or shrubs near your windows can help block sunlight naturally. If you don’t have space for plants, you can install outdoor shades or awnings to shield your windows from direct sunlight. What if I don’t have access to a garden or outdoor space? Even without outdoor space, using light-colored curtains or reflective materials on windows inside can still make a big difference.

By trying out a few of these tips, you notice a change. The air in your home feels cooler, and the heat isn’t as overwhelming as before. With just a little effort and some creative solutions, you’ve managed to keep your home comfortable, even during the hottest days.


Airconditioning

If none of these methods provide enough relief from the heat, there's really only one solution left: air conditioning. While it may seem like the last resort, air conditioning is a highly effective way to cool your home quickly and consistently. It can bring immediate relief on the hottest days, especially when the temperature becomes unbearable and other strategies just aren't enough.

However, it's important to use it wisely to avoid high energy costs and environmental impact. Setting your air conditioner to a moderate temperature rather than the coldest setting can still provide comfort while saving energy. Additionally, combining air conditioning with some of the other cooling techniques, like blocking out sunlight or improving airflow, can help your system work more efficiently, keeping your home cool without overloading your AC unit.

For some, investing in a portable air conditioner or a window unit can be a more affordable and energy-efficient option if cooling the entire home isn't necessary. Ultimately, when the temperature gets extreme, air conditioning can be the most reliable way to maintain a comfortable living environment.

Besides improving thermal comfort, the use of air conditioning in hospital wards reduces the mortality rate. In companies and schools, it improves productivity and performance. The widely accepted optimal temperature range is between 22–25°C. Some argue that this range should be widened to 21-29°C.

Widespread use of air conditioning, however, has some negative effects too. The use of energy (electricity) is huge, and this can lead to serious problems in the infrastructure. Also, it contributes to higher greenhouse gas emissions.

Besides, the costs of purchasing and maintaining airconditioning are relatively high, and thus less accessible for many poor and vulnerable people.  

 

 



 


 

In the following video's you get some extra tips and tricks that can help you maintain a healthy and cool home enviroment

 

 

In several countries, public information has been developed to help people stay cool during times of (extreme) hot weather. A good example is this flyer from The Hope project (INSERT link to hope):

Please consider which of these measures – stand-alone or in combination - mentioned in this movie and in this flyer, apply to your personal situation. After that, please answer the question underneath:

 

  

  

Of course, it is important to take care of your friends, or family members, during heatwaves. But remember many other people might be suffering in these days, such as neighbours. And for sure you can do something for them, just watch this video clip:

 

 

Please remember the practical tips that are given in the second part of this short video, which is about reaching out. It can make a big difference for frail neighbours when you look after them and maybe help them with relatively simple supportive actions, such as presented in this clip.

 And of course, nowadays there are several useful apps to help you find (real-time) cool places in the city during heatwaves. A good example, which is free to download on your smartphone (Android and IOS), is the Extrema Global application. It uses weather data for a specific geographic location and provides personalized information to city residents and visitors about heat-related health threats and where they can find cool places. This app is limited to 4 big cities until now: Athens, Paris, Rotterdam and Milano. But many other cities have their own application to download, for example, Cool Spaces in London. These apps can be found easily on Google.  

 Finding cool places in your neighbourhood might also be a good way to deal with extreme heat. In the next part of the course, you will find interventions and strategies which local governments and healthcare organizations can implement

 

 

 

 




Last modified: Monday, 11 November 2024, 9:19 AM