For a country known as the Great White North, Canada sure is surprising us with record-breaking summer heat waves this year. British Columbia began their official 2021 summer with some of the highest temperatures the country has ever seen - reaching an unbearable high of 49.6 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, this heat wave doesn’t start and end there - it is sweeping across the country with new records in Alberta and Northwest Territories, and heat warnings being issued in nearly every other province.
Temperatures like these are no laughing matter when it comes to our health, staying cool and managing power supply and demand. When the going gets hot, the air conditioners get going (understandably), but if you don’t have an air conditioner or if a power outage happens as a result of surging power demands, it’s a downright sweaty struggle.
To help equip you for additional heat waves that Mother Nature may have in store for Ottawa, we thought we would share some tips that will not only help you stay cool (with or without an air conditioner), but also keep your electricity bill down.
- Windows opened or closed tonight?
Sometimes nighttime temperatures and humidity levels drop enough for you to cool your house just as effectively as with your air conditioner. Keep an eye on the weather to make your judgement call. For ongoing, daily advice from an Ottawa leader in energy efficiency, follow Dave Shipley on Twitter.
- Water is your friend
On those extra hot days, first and foremost, be sure to stay hydrated in order to help your body stay cool. Sweat is your body’s mechanism to help it stay cool through evaporation - you can expedite this cooling process by using a spray bottle or a washcloth to wet your skin. This is not only highly effective, it will help prevent your body from producing too much sweat. Combine this with tip #3 for an even greater cooling effect. Other wonderful water options to help you stay cool are cold showers, jumping through a sprinkler, or filling up a kiddie pool in your backyard.
- Your #1 fan
Turning on your ceiling or pedestal fan is a great way to stay cool as it helps your body lose heat via a process called convection, and helps sweat to evaporate faster. Unfortunately you can no longer lose heat through convection once temperatures rise above 35 degrees Celsius; however, the good news is that fans will still help with sweat evaporation in the high heat - especially when the humidity is high.
- Avoid cooking with heat and turn off appliances that generate heat
The more ways you can minimize any additional heat being generated inside your house, the better. To do this, consider barbecuing meals that require heat, or prioritize cold / no-bake meals like salads or sandwiches. Take-out is of course always an option as a special treat to forgo meal preparation altogether. Likewise, avoid turning on appliances like your dryer. Instead, use the hot outdoor temperatures to your advantage and consider line drying your clothes or using a drying rack if possible.
- Close those curtains
Your sunbathing cat or dog may not be a fan of this tip, but avoid letting the sun beam through your windows throughout the day as this can generate a lot of unwanted heat. Instead, make a habit of keeping your curtains or blinds closed, particularly on the south and west sides of your home during the hot afternoon sun.
- Dress for the heat
Whether your wardrobe is a hundred per cent casual these days, or you have the need or desire to dress up, there are a variety of strategies to stay cool. For casual days, stick to cottons and sports gear for breathability. You can even go barefoot or wear slides around the house. For more formal days, try outfits with a linen material, lighter colours and that limit the number of required layers.
- Think long term with a home energy audit
A lack of air tightness, poor insulation and inefficient systems can all contribute to uncomfortable living spaces when temperatures dramatically fluctuate. For homeowners, it can be valuable to create a long term solution for improving your home’s energy efficiency through hiring a professional to perform a home energy audit. The great news is that the federal government is currently offering the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Homeowners are eligible for up to $600 for the cost of pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations and up to $5,000 total for the implementation of eligible retrofits. Another program launching in late summer/fall 2021, is the City of Ottawa’s Better Homes Loan Program, offering applicants a low-interest loan of up to 10 per cent of the current value of their home to cover the cost of home energy improvements. With options like these, there really is no better time to pursue these upgrades.
As most Canadians can attest, summer is way too short not to make the most of it. But let’s face it, hot weather is only fun when you have some opportunities to cool off. We hope these tips help you get the most out of Ottawa’s summer weather while also managing your energy consumption.
For even more energy saving tips, check out our list of 65 Ways to manage home energy use.
