How to stay cool during heatwaves

How to Stay COOL During

By Angela Terry, Founder of One Home

About the author: Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and mum of three. She’s the founder of One Home, the UK‘s first consumer climate action hub – providing independent, practical advice on the changes you can make to help fight global warming and adapt to climate change.

The world is heating up. The past seven years have been the seven warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. In fact, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says our planet’s surface temperatures are higher than they’ve been for 125,000 years.

Climate change means heatwaves are becoming more common, even here in the UK. When they hit, everyone’s desperate for ways to keep cool. For women going through menopause, the situation’s even more pressing. Hot flushes are no joke at the best of times, never mind when temperatures are soaring.

Of course, it doesn’t make sense to max out your carbon footprint in your attempt to cool down by buying air conditioning units. That’s only going to make the whole global warming situation worse. It’s all about finding ecofriendly ways of staying chill in a warming world. Here are my tips: •Take it easy

Exercise is pivotal to health and wellbeing, especially during menopause. However, during a heatwave, your body is already working overtime. Even the fittest yoga queen or gym bunny needs to tone down their regime.

•Be shady

If you’re lucky enough to have some outside space, then sitting in the shade is a no brainer. If you haven’t a suitable tree, then invest in a parasol – although planting a tree to provide shade for future generations is a fantastic idea too. Please remember that being in the shade won’t protect you from heat exhaustion. Keep sipping water and always wear a high protection sunscreen. •Hydrate

During a heatwave, we need to drink more water than usual to maintain our body temperature and replace the fluids lost by sweating. Experts suggest upping your water consumption to at least 2.5 litres of water every day – the cooler the better! Make sure to have a good supply of ice in the freezer. You could also make healthy ice lollies using fresh fruit purees.

•Use water

We sweat because it helps our bodies dissipate heat. Regular plain water applied to the skin works in the same way.

If you’re working at home, place your feet in a bowl of water under the desk. You can also keep a spray bottle of water to hand, to mist over your face and neck. But keep it tepid. While it might be tempting to blast yourself with ice-cold water this can make you feel warmer afterwards, because your body works harder to balance your core temperature with your skin temperature. •Ditch the polyester

Choose breathable, natural fabrics, like cotton, linen and bamboo. Synthetic materials are water-resistant, which means they’re terrible at absorbing any hint of moisture. When you wear polyester or other manmade fabrics, your sweat has nowhere to go and accumulates.

•Avoid air con

Air conditioning units and electric fans account for 10% of all electricity consumption on the planet. Due to rising temperatures, the global stock of air conditioners is projected to go up from 1.6 billion to 5.6 billion by 2050, which is why the International Energy Agency’s calling for an urgent action plan to improve cooling technologies.

Air conditioning units are not just hugely inefficient, they also leak gases known as hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (HFCs) into the atmosphere – which are a major contributor to global heating. The most common one – R-410A – is over 2,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. That’s why, even if your electricity is from 100% renewable sources, it’s still better not to buy aircon.

•Cool your home

There are so many eco-friendly ways to keep the temperature of your home bearable. It might be tempting to throw open your windows, but it’s far better to shut them and close the curtains or blinds – especially if they’re south-facing – during the day. Black-out curtain linings or blinds will be even more effective at keeping the hot air out. Air your home in the evening, once the sun’s gone down.

Insulation is hugely helpful. Wall and roof insulation don’t just keep the cold out in winter. They keep the heat out in summer. It’s worth investing in them and making your property as energy efficient as possible. It’ll cut your bills too!

Finally, switch off all appliances you’re not using to stop them from generating unnecessary heat.

•Getting some sleep

Sleeping during a heatwave can be tricky. Pop your pyjamas in the freezer half an hour before putting them on. Likewise, freeze a hot water bottle and put it in your bed for ten minutes before you get in – although then make sure to remove it to avoid ice burns on your skin. Taking a lukewarm shower before going to bed should also help you drift off.