41c outside ? tips to stay cool

The long, hot summers of India can be quite unforgiving. Hyderabad recorded 41 degrees on Wednesday, surpassing the monthly average of 35.4 degrees by a huge amount. Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh was the hottest place in the two Telugu states on Monday with the maximum temperature of 41.7 degrees.

The met office has forecast that dry weather will continue to prevail over next few days with maximum temperature likely to be two to three degrees above average.

As temperatures rise, most of us resort to keeping our homes cool by using air conditioners. The irony is, while draining our pockets to keep our houses cool, we’re also burning enough fossil fuels, making the world a hotter place.

Here are a few smart tips to keep you cool without having to use an AC.

Go low-tech
An excellent method to keep a room cool can be found using three things that are easily available in any house: a fan, large metal bowl, and ice. The air blowing around large metal bowl of ice helps it function as a crude health sink. While other frozen or chilled items are also likely to work, ice is a better option because even after the cubes melt, the water left behind continues to cool the room.

Foods
Seasonal fruits (like watermelon, musk melon, grapes, oranges) and vegetables (like cucumber, radishes, lettuce, leafy greens and herbs like mint) can help you stay cool and energised – even when the heat turns up. It’s also the time of the year when our body craves some flavourful hydration. Before gulping down the myriad bottled beverages available in the market, try guzzling some traditional drinks like nannari, jal jeera, shikanji, lassi, buttermilk, aam panna, bel sherbet, imli ka amlana, kokum sherbet and coconut water.

White paint

In much the same way the ice/snow reflects UV rays instead of absorbing the heat like the oceans do, white roofs/terraces reflect the heat and help keep the house cool. This is why a coat of white lime wash on a flat terrace can help the slab to remain cool throughout the summer. However, this washes away in the rains, so a reapplication is required every summer.
Another way of reducing roof temperature is stacking bundles of damp straw (a natural insulator) on a plastic sheet on the roof. However, the best way to keep a roof cool is a terrace garden (the mud used to grow plants acts as an insulator) though it may be time-consuming.

Cool curtains
With the harsh summer sun knocking at the windows, it’s important to keep the interiors of your home as light and airy as possible. Opt for cottons and sheers while choosing curtains or layer your windows with jute screens and bamboo shades. Dark synthetic drapes are definitely a no-no in the summer months. You can also make your own burlap curtains – the open weave of the fabric lets the room breathe while filtering light beautifully, and the fabric, while inexpensive, has a rich texture that can be dressed up or down.

Body cooling mist
Something as easy and simple as sprinkling some water on your face can make the summer heat more bearable and help you sleep better. Keep a bottle of DIY body spray of an all natural body mist made with cooling essential oils like mint and eucalyptus in your fridge and sprinkle some on yourself before going to bed – it will help you cool down, hydrate your skin and leave you smelling wonderful.

Lessen the load
Most electronics use electricity—and emit heat—even when they are running idly or turned off. Unplug electronic equipment when not in use, or use a smart power strip to power off electronics when they are idle and minimise the amount of heat they generate.

Cross ventilate
Create a breeze inside your home by strategically opening your windows at opposite ends to enable cross ventilation. While cross-ventilation is a well-known phenomenon, not many people know that time also plays a crucial factor. The best time to open the windows during summers is between 5am and 8am and between 7pm and 10pm.

Turn off lights
Turn off lights when not in use – especially incandescent bulbs. Not only do they consume more power and increase your electricity bills, they also radiate a lot of heat. It’s best to replace them with cooler light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescents (CFLs).

Use rice pillows
Making rice pillows is easy, inexpensive and a perfect way to keep your bed cool. They are fun to snuggle and can be chilled in the refrigerator for hot days. The rice packs also work wonders for an incredible number of minor ailments, such as itchy bug bite, sprained ankles and sore muscles.