The UK is hardly the worst affected country when it comes to keeping cool in summer – Japan, for instance, relies so much on air conditioning in hot weather that it faces an annual balancing act between all-out power cuts and deaths due to heatstroke.
But our usually mild climate means we are often less prepared to cope when a heatwave hits, and that can lead to the temptation to throw eco-friendliness out of the window as you plug a desk fan into every available power socket.
Here are five of the best alternatives to keep cool without running up a huge energy bill, or adding unduly to your carbon footprint.
1. Keep it closed
First of all, don’t let heat into places where it’s not already hot. Opening the freezer door may give you a brief blast of cold air, but it heats up the room overall as the refrigerator’s cooling system has to work to get the temperature inside back down.
Likewise, opening your windows in the daytime can be a false economy, compared with opening them during the cooler night-time and shutting out the heat of the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
2. Dress it down
Make sure your wardrobe has some lighter options for the hottest days – don’t be left sweating in heavy jeans when you could be wearing light cotton shorts.
In the workplace, a strict dress code can be challenging, but speak to your employer about any dress-down options, or whether short-sleeved shirts and open collars might be acceptable if they mean you can do your job more productively.
Again, make the most of the lower temperatures at night, with lighter bedding and a thinner duvet – if you sleep under the covers at all.
3. Roll it on
Aerosols have a natural cooling effect, due to the expansion of the compressed spray leaving the canister, but they also typically contain volatile compounds that you don’t want to release into the atmosphere.
Look for more ‘natural’ alternatives, such as roll-on deodorants or cooling face spritzes, which rely on a mechanical effect rather than compressed chemicals.
4. Take it outside
If it’s too hot inside, get outside if you can – just remember to wear sunscreen and stay in the shade as much as possible.
Even if you end up in an air conditioned shopping mall, cinema or pub, you’re sharing the benefits rather than adding to your individual energy footprint; even an air conditioned open plan office is better than sitting alone in an artificially cooled room.
5. Use it well
If you must use air conditioning, do it right – don’t have the windows open, as this will just let more hot air in, and make sure the controls are set at a sensible level so you’re not wasting energy.
Likewise, switch off equipment that might be producing unnecessary heat, such as computers that aren’t in use, and try to only use low-energy lighting that doesn’t rely on a white-hot element. You can’t control the weather, but you can avoid adding to the heat in your own space.