5 Sustainable Ways to Beat the Heat Wave
The current heat wave we are experiencing in the Lower Mainland is record-breaking and definitely abnormal. Fans and air conditioners are flying off the shelves, workplaces are being shut down, and places like shopping malls and grocery stores are now considered air-conditioned sanctuaries. Here's something we know you probably don't want to hear: air conditioning systems are not great for our health or for the environment. We all know it, but it doesn't seem to matter as much when it is 40 degrees Celsius outside, right? This got us thinking… what are some ways we can beat the heat in a more sustainable way, that is better for our health? With the help of The United Nations Environment Programme and BC Hydro, we’ve rounded up our top 5 sustainable ways to beat the heat wave:
Get out of the city.
Concrete absorbs sunlight throughout the day and releases it as heat later into the evening, even after the sun has gone down. As if our roads and sidewalks aren't enough, heat from the engines in our cars and public transit add another layer to our urban areas. It's time to escape! We're not telling you to book a vacation. Simply take a day or evening to visit one of the many lakes or creeks around town!
Keep your appliances off (best you can).
The obvious suggestion here is to utilize cooking methods such as the BBQ to avoid using your stove and oven. Smaller appliances such as microwaves and pressure cookers do the trick as well. Hanging laundry to dry, even inside your home, instead of using dryers will not only decrease the amount of heat produced, but your laundry will probably dry just as fast, if not faster!
Close your windows, doors, and blinds.
This one seems like the opposite of what you want to do in the middle of summer, but closing up your home protects it from those strong sunrays. These practices will keep the cool air IN! Right where we want it.
Use fans over A/C.
This one is a game changer for a number of reasons, but mainly because fans just circulate the air that's already there, without all of the greenhouse gas emissions or health problems that overuse of A/C can cause. Plugging in some fans is also a lot more affordable than any type of A/C unit. If you don't believe us, take a look at this graphic on page four from BC Hydro. Mind blowing stuff, we know. There are also a number of ways to step up your fan game these days, like attaching misters or placing a frozen water bottle or bucket of ice in front of it.
Turn everything OFF.
While a lot of us are still working from home, we probably don't need to keep all of our lights on and electronics running all day long. Be mindful to turn things off or unplug them when they're not in use, simple as that! Also when you leave the house for more than an hour, turn off your A/C and fans. Your energy bills and the environment will thank you.
