July in Louisiana is one of the hottest months of the year, and with record-breaking temperatures this summer, it’s not only comfortable to stay cool – it’s healthy.
Robert Moreland, mass communication senior, said he pours cold water on his hat before going outside on a hot day, while Joey Vinning, construction management junior, said he goes to the pool every day.
But there are more ways to avoid the heat.
The Center for Disease Control advises everyone to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids and wear loose, light-colored clothing in addition to sunscreen.
But their strongest advice? Use air-conditioning.
“Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death,” according to the CDC website, adding that standard fans, when it’s above 90 degrees, are useless.
“From 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined.”
However, cooling an apartment to frigid temperatures all summer can get expensive. That’s where certain technology can come in handy, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat.
Created by two ex-Apple employees – former iPod division SVP Tony Fadell and lead engineer Matt Rogers – the $249 Nest appears to be a simple digital thermostat, but it uses a combination of sensors to “learn” about its owners in about two weeks.
In a two-bedroom apartment, for example, the Nest would learn that by 9 a.m., the occupants will have left for classes and adjust the temperature to save money. It could also judge when they return and set the apartment at a comfortable temperature by then.
The Nest can also be controlled by a smartphone to remotely set the temperature.
That’s only half the equation. The sun turns most cars into ovens when they’re left in a parking lot for extend periods of time.
But there is an alternative to buying foil reflectors to place under a car’s windshield.
According to LifeHacker, a blog that posts do-it-yourself tips and ideas, there’s a Japanese car door trick that can cool down a car that’s been in the sun too long.
Simply roll down a window on one side of the car, then open and close a door on the opposite side around five times.
Apparently, this helps circulate the air in the car – expelling the hot air inside through the window and drawing cooler air in from outdoors.
Contact Taylor Balkom at [email protected].