Beat the Summer Heat

Temperatures are soaring and so are energy costs. You don't have to shell out big money to keep cool. There are many inexpensive ways to beat the summer heat.

If you are one of the many unlucky people who do not own an air conditioner, try this low-tech instant air cooler:

Fill a large casserole dish with ice cubes. Place the dish in front of a fan. The air blowing over the ice will be refreshingly cool.

Tip: Take standard safety measures. Take care not to overfill the dish with ice; make sure the melt water does not leak out and come into contact with the fan or any electrical cords. Do not use around pets or children--they could tip the fan over or accidentally spill the ice water onto the fan.

A safer alternative would be to purchase a cooling cover for your fan. You can purchase special cooling covers for 18 inch circular fans at http://www.carolwrightgifts.com. The current price is only $7.99. These mesh covers come with a gel pack that can be frozen. This uses the same principal as the ice in the dish but is less messy.

If you have a bit more money and don't want to run an air conditioner, there are inexpensive coolers called "swamp coolers" that cool via evaporation. The price of a swamp cooler ranges from about $89.00 for small units that cool small areas (such as a cubicle), to around $300.00 for large units that can cool larger living areas up to 400 square feet. (There are even larger units than these--but they cost several thousand dollars).

Swamp coolers may not cool as well as traditional air conditioners but they will help to, at least, make the ambient temperature more tolerable.

A very handy inexpensive way to keep cool is to wet a bandana in ice water and wear it around your neck. You can also wrap some pieces of crushed ice in the bandana. You should keep a container of ice water nearby to freshen the bandana in when the cloth gets warm.

Several companies sell special gel-crystal filled bandanas specifically for the purpose of cooling. The gel swells in water and retains moisture for a long time. I have found, however, that these special bandanas do not work as well as a simple bandana dipped in ice water, and the gel inside the bandanas usually leaks out after a time. These bandanas can become slimy. Since they cannot be laundered, they become foul- smelling as well.

For even greater cooling, you can purchase cooling vests. These vests contain cooling packs and can be worn against the body or over clothing. The vests cost $130.00 to $245.00 at http://www.industrialsavings.com.

Don't forget that drinking ice-cold drinks (juice, water, and other non-caffeinated drinks) will help keep your core temperature down--very important during extremely hot days. Enjoy the summer and stay cool.