The weather here has been ridiculous. Hot and humid. Depending on where you live, you might be dealing with the same things. I live in an apartment building where the electric bill is included in my rent, so I don’t worry about the financial implications of running my air conditioner, but I do worry a bit about the environmental implications, so I try to not be too ridiculous with the temperature. I know a lot of people turn off their AC during the day, but my apartment gets HOT in the middle of the day and I have two furry cats to worry about.
All the heat reminds me of my days in college. We were in the midwest, where it got super hot in the fall and spring and super cold in the winter. My dorm was built in the late 1800’s, and we definitely didn’t have air conditioner. So we went for the next best thing – a giant bowl of ice sitting in front of a fan. It’s amazing how great that feels. I still set it up in my apartment from time to time when I really want some cold air blowing on me. Of course, then I have to keep the cats from spilling the bowl of water (they like to drink from it), but it’s a great feeling for not a lot of money.
What are your favorite “stay cool” tips?
I never would have thought about the bowl of ice idea! We try to not run the AC if we’re not home, but we do keep the ceiling fan running for the cats. The apartments surrounding us keep us at a bearable temperature. (Don’t ask that same question to my husband. He would adamantly disagree!) Be glad your electricity is included in your rent. I would kill for that.
We’ve been around for 60,000 years or so, air conditionings have only been around since 1902. Seams like we can do ok without em. I just open the windows. Though us Aussies have been laughing our assess off ath the people from Moscow with their “heat wave” of 93.8 degrees, it hits 113 on occasion here, we just had a heat wave of 6 consecutive days over 113.