3 July 2021

How to Stay Cool Without Air-Conditioning


IF YOU HAVEN'T noticed lately, the Earth is getting hotter and climate change is to blame, with a dash of the heat island effect—when urban spaces trap heat—also making it worse. This summer, the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada are roasting under the hottest temperatures recorded there ever, the US Southwest and Northeast are roiling again, and the West Coast is entering its Mad Maxian wildfire season that's making once-in-a-lifetime destruction a regular occurrence. This is the only planet we've got, at least until enough of us are living on Mars, so you may as well learn a few tricks on coping with the heat.

Air-conditioning is still a luxury for many people, and even in the US and Canada, it's not ubiquitous. Also, people trying to reduce their environmental footprint often choose to go without energy-sucking air conditioners, which raise city temperatures by pumping heat outdoors. Plus, the power could go out during an ill-timed heat wave. This guide has tips on how to stay cool when it's incredibly hot and air-conditioning is nowhere to be found.

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