Hot and Cold

It's hot today!

I was looking for ways to stay cool and found a great list of how to sit in the shade, sit in the tub, sit outside, sit inside, blow into a glass of ice. . . you know, things that keep you cool if you have nothing to do.

But what if you have projects to work on? Maybe you're cleaning out your attic, weeding in the sun or working on a construction site.

How do you stay cool then?

On my search, I found a material made of "hydrophilic fibers into a fibrous batting core and a thermally conductive lining" that can be made into vests, animal blankets, hats--you name it. Apparently this stuff keeps you 20 degrees cooler than the outside air, and can be recharged by dipping it in water for 10 seconds. This sounds really good compared to that blue gel-pak I keep in my freezer which actually hurts me with how cold it is.

But on this blog we don't talk about clothing (although I have a lot to say about that, too), we're talking about construction.

Here are some heat-fighters for your home. If you're building or renovating now, these are probably on the top of your mind. What are you planning for fighting the heat?

1. Roofing. Well, just like those yellow school buses with their roofs painted white, use light-colored roofing--it will reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it.
2. Insulate! Insulate! Don't skimp on the insulation of your home. You'll save heating and cooling costs as well as be more comfortable year round. Insulate your walls, insulate your attic. Insulate your foundation if you can.
3. Plant those trees. Have you planted any trees this week since last week's tree-tirade? Trees keep your home cooler and your plants perkier. Choose a deciduous tree that loses its leaves if you want the sun in the winter. Awnings, curtains and porches also provide shade and make a huge difference to the comfort of your home.
4. Recycle your cool air. Since heat rises and cool falls, recirculate your cool air by having your HVAC professional add a cold air return to pull the naturally cool air back up by using the fan mode of your cooling system.
5. Ventilate. Your attic may reach 120 degrees if not vented. Install a thermostat controlled fan to exhaust that hot air when temperatures hit a certain point. This works inside your home as well.
6. Whole-house fans vent the hot air out through attic vents. If you have a shaded downstairs window or door, open it up (as well as doors between floors of your home) to pull that cool air up through the house. Make sure your attic is ventilated though, this won't work if you're just trapping the hot air up there.

And, if all else fails, sit in the shade and blow on ice.