In anticipation of the season itself, the pervasive heat of summer seems to have arrived. A winter’s worth of unfamiliarity means that, every few minutes, my brain starts assessing just why it is so curiously hot. Am I standing near a burner that has been left on? Am I beside a recently used shower?
One possibility I am considering for this summer is a relatively low-cost, low-energy cooling system of my own devising. My basement is large and markedly cooler than my flat. I am curious whether opening the windows down there and then placing fans at the bottom and top of the stairs might generate a flow of cooling air.
It would be overkill right now, but I may feel differently in August.
there are definitly interesting things you can do to create low energy, cheap, cooling solutions. Preferably, they should involve a lot of ducting. Mostly so you can use duct tape, and if people ask you what you are using it for, you can say “ducting, of course”.
Heat, humidity spawn severe storms in Ont., NB and Sask.
CBC.ca – 1 hour ago
People in southwestern Ontario will be cleaning up debris and repairing damage Monday after severe storms, fuelled by intense heat and humidity, battered a swath of territory between Windsor and Toronto.
Environment Canada issues tornado alerts
After a sweaty weekend, strong winds knock down trees, damage property in Southwestern Ontario
JEFF GRAY
With reports from The Canadian Press
June 9, 2008
As dark and menacing clouds rolled in last night after a weekend of sweaty heat, Environment Canada warned many residents in Southern Ontario – including those in the Toronto area – to watch out for tornadoes arriving along with the thunderstorms that hit much of the region.
Heat wave!
Environment Canada’s David Phillips is calling for yet another hotter than average summer, and in many Canadian cities, people are wriggling in their office chairs, waiting to enjoy some sun. But the novelty of a hot weekend will wear off soon, as the muggy summer overstays its welcome.
Turning on the air conditioner, then retreating to your own private Inuvik might seem like the thing to do, but Canada’s hyper-consumption of energy is one of the reasons the summers are getting hotter. To reduce your impact on the climate, while trying to beat the heat, try a swim in a public pool or beach. Even if a clean beach isn’t available, just walking along the sand and enjoying the breeze can be a sweet relief. Or try a walk to the park, to have a quiet moment beneath a shady tree. For those restless, muggy nights, try placing a pot of water full of ice cubes between yourself and a fan. That will help keep you cool, without using nearly as much power as an air conditioner. If that doesn’t do the trick, a cold shower before bed will help you hit the hay gently.
East coast summers and winters make me think that I should acquire land in a place where it would be tolerable to live, year round, with neither heating nor cooling in one’s dwelling. Then I remember that, in situations where no such energy is available, property deeds will probably just be meaningless pieces of paper.
On fans versus AC
Ask Umbra
07 Jul 2008