This European heatwave has been going on for weeks and shows no signs of abating. It’s really wearing me down. Any tips for staying cool when you don’t have air conditioning? I’ve tried the whole shutting the windows and blinds thing they recommend but that just makes it worse. I already feel uncomfortably hot at the best of times as a side effect of my medication. So an actual heatwave on top is literal torture. It’s so bad in the UK that supermarket refrigerators have stopped working due to the heat, and the news says its going to be the longest heatwave in 50 years.
I’ve seen multiple sources recommend that you open your windows at night and run fans to bring the cool night air into your house. Then close your windows during the day so that the cool air stays trapped in your house. As someone from the US, I’d worry about wildlife flying into the window, especially bats. Maybe your windows have mesh window screens.
Today, London is 33C during the day but only 20C at night.
Avoid using appliances that generate excessive amounts of heat like an oven or gaming pc. Use these appliances at night if needed.
Having large trees near your house could help shade the house from sunlight.
Avoid physical activity and excessive labor.
Maybe you could have a designated cold room your house? If there is one room in your home that is cooler than others, you could spend more time in that room. Probably want to avoid being near the refrigerator as it produces heat. If you have a basement it might be cooler under ground level.
If things are really bad, you could try sleeping during the day and being awake during the night. I’m not a doctor, so I shouldn’t really tell people when to sleep. I like being awake during the night because it’s quieter and cooler.
Go to public spaces during the day time which have air conditioning. Perhaps a grocery store or a coffee shop.
Buy an air conditioning unit. Things are only going to get worse. Maybe just get a window unit if you don’t have resource.
If that’s the case then 100% definitely open windows at night not just to let in cool air but so that it brings the temp of everything inside down, the thermal mass of your walls, furniture etc will help it stay cooler throughout the day
places a fully grown tree in my backyard like im playing the sims
spoiler
You can buy sun shades that cast a shadow over a particular part of a house, probably pretty inaccessible/ expensive though.
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
I live in the UK so i’m not too worried about bats or wildlife, only spiders. Soon the giant spiders will be out and I’m not looking forward to that, it’ll be a choice between shut the windows and boil to death or leave them open and get giant spiders in here.