Beat the Heat: 4 Easy Ways to Keep Cool This Summer

Happy summer everybody! Summer is special for many reasons. It’s the season for awesome adventures and lovely memories. However, one aspect of summer that we all try to avoid is the scorching heat. As Canadians, we adjust to the long, chilly temperatures of winter and are caught off guard by the summer heat. It is scientifically proven that we subconsciously alter our body postures to minimize heat loss. We adapt to heat by making changes to our body’s thermoregulation. Here are some easy and natural methods we can use to keep ourselves as cool as possible this summer.

1. Cold Showers

This offers instant relief from heat. Cold water creates a mild stress response in the body, which makes it more difficult to maintain core temperature. This pushes your body to increase blood circulation. Increased blood flow allows the body to release excess heat into the environment through convection and radiation.

It’s more important than ever to conserve water, so try not to spend too much time in the shower. One great hack for taking shorter showers is to put on your favourite Spotify playlist. Try to finish showering after the second or third song has played. Other ways to reduce water consumption in the shower is to use low-flow showerheads and turn off the water when applying shampoo or soap.

2. Cooling Towels and Ice Packs

Placing these cold items on your body’s pressure points brings great relief on hot days since they can quickly reduce your internal temperature. These areas include your neck, wrists, and ankles. Making a chilled towel is an easy DIY project. Just follow these steps:

1. Fill a large bowl with ice water
2. Add 8–10 drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional)
3. Place a towel in the bowl
4. After it has soaked for a couple of minutes, wring out the excess water
5. Fold the towel in half and roll it tightly
6. Refrigerate in a sealed container until use (preferably for a few hours or overnight)

Alternatively, you can use store-bought ice packs on these same pressure points.

3. Dress for the Weather

Gone are the heavy jackets, boots, and mittens of winter. However, while you don’t have to dress for the cold anymore, dressing for the heat is still an art form. Certain materials and colours will serve you better on hot days. For example, it’s best to avoid wearing dark colours. According to research, black radiates and absorbs more heat, especially from your body. One workaround is to wear loose-fitting black clothing on windier days. This warms the air between your skin and the fabric, creating an upward air current that provides cooling relief, similar to a chimney effect. Overall, aim for lighter colours. You should also wear breathable and lightweight fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk, rayon, and chambray.

4. Cool Down Your Home Naturally

No air conditioning? No problem! Let’s get creative with ways to keep our homes cool this summer. Here are some ideas:

• Open your windows at night
• Close your windows during the day using curtains, blinds, or shades
• Bake and wash at night since larger appliances release a lot of heat. Keep them turned off during the day to help maintain cooler temperatures
• Use a grill. By cooking outside, you don’t need to worry about heating up your house
• Install exterior window shades
• Use exhaust fans
• Move fans around the house for better air circulation
• Set ceiling fans to move counter-clockwise. This ensures that the air is pushed straight down 

There are many ways to keep your home cool without relying on air conditioning. Experiment and find what works for you!

Closing Remarks

Share these tips with others and together, let’s keep cool this summer. At Green Schools Green Future, we are raising awareness about critical environmental issues and sustainable living. Help us build our first green school to transform children into responsible green leaders who will protect our planet!