Summertime 2009 in San Diego ~ It's about as hot as it was last year, but this time the Miller family learned a few things about surviving the hot Southern California weather without sweating the bank.
First, we make sure to keep the windows and drapes closed all day long. Blackout drapes, like the ones used in hotels, work great ~ we got ours from Bed Bath and Beyond. Blocking the sun from coming in naturally cools the home. In addition, we keep a high-velocity fan running on low and pointed to the center of the house most of the day. The fan will blow the cool air throughout at least two rooms in the house.
Second, I keep a moist face towel or hankerchief around to wipe away that sticky sweat. Water from our blood absorbs our body heat and it rises to the surface of the skin via the sweat glands so that it can evaporate and create a cooling effect. Creating your own wet skin layer feels especially awesome when winded away by a fan.
Third, at night when the temperature is nice, I cool my entire home by pulling in cool air from the outside of the house and then pushing the hot air out through the same vents with my high-velocity van that is pointed out the window. The temperature in the house is then dropped considerably as the new cooler air replaces the stale warm air. Consequently, as the hot air exits the house, it contributes to a temperature drop in the entire house as well.
Also, the sun damages skin and anything exposed to it for long periods of time. I don't really like going to outdoor pools or the beach even if it cools the body. So I've got a little creative and made my own indoor wading pool. I've pushed the dining room chairs and tables aside and replaced it with the pool full of bath toys.
There are many other ways to save money and keep cool in the house. These are just my ideas.
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