Staying COol During the Dog Days of Summer

Guest Contributor: Christina Pay, USU Extension Assistant Professor

Most people will agree that the “dog days of summer” are usually slow, lazy, and hot.  This phrase took on a whole new meaning for me when I moved from Utah to the San Joaquin Valley of California. With temperatures in my new town ranging between 99⁰ – 114⁰ (F) each day, my heat tolerance was sorely tested. And, as temperatures rose, so did the power bill.  I couldn’t keep my head in the freezer all day (not practical) nor could I turn the air conditioner down to “arctic” (not economical). Instead, I learned a few tips along the way on how to stay cool without going into debt.

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1. Close the curtains or blinds during bright sunlight hours.  Keeping the sunlight out keeps the cool in.
2. Open the windows at night.  When the evening air cools, bring it inside. This will keep the house comfortable all night and even throughout the next morning. Make sure to close the windows as soon as outside temperatures begin climbing.
3. Use ceiling fans wisely. Did you know that when ceiling fans are used wisely they can make a room feel up to 8⁰ (F) cooler?   Check that ceiling fans are set to run counterclockwise during summer months. This maximizes air circulation around the room which cools the room.
4. Use fans to create cross current air flow.  Position two fans in your windows. One will push out the warm air and the other brings the cooler air in. Also use fans to cool the room. Position one fan in front of you and the other off to the left or right of you. The air around you will flow in all directions cooling your entire body.
5. Don’t use the oven to cook. A hot oven will drastically increase the heat in your kitchen. Instead, plan meals that use the microwave or stove top.  Or better yet, cook outside using a grill and keep the heat outside where it belongs.
6. Wear light colored cotton clothing. Cotton clothing offers good air circulation through the cloth. Lighter colors allow light to reflect or pass through the cloth, instead of retaining heat, which will keep you cooler.  
7. Plan what you eat.  When digested, salty and protein foods produce metabolic heat and cause water loss. Try eating more fruits and vegetables and smaller more frequent meals during the day.  And, while you’re at it, go ahead and eat that spicy food!  The spice in the food causes you to sweat more which, in turn, cools the skin.
8. Plan cool activities.  Go to the library! The library has free books, magazines, movies, Wi-Fi and usually programs and story time available for children.  Or, have water fights in your back yard! Pre-fill some inexpensive water guns and keep a bucket or tub full of water handy for refilling.    Watering the yard?  Run through the sprinklers! You don’t have to be a child to enjoy the cooling effects.

 
Staying cool doesn’t have to drain your wallet.  By making a few small changes, you can keep cool and enjoy the dog days of summer no matter where you live.