Effective Ways To Stay Cool In The Summer

Operating an air conditioner during the summer months can be an expensive way to stay cool. Many people who live in dry regions of the country find that evaporative coolers provide an effective way to lower the air temperature. Such units pull outside air into the home or shop, which also has the benefit of exhausting stale indoor air.
Swamp coolers use the fact that evaporation, a phase change, requires a liquid to absorb heat in order to become a vapor. When the blower pulls air through wet pads, evaporation takes place and can lower the air temperature by up to 15 degrees. Thus, when the outside temperatures are in the mid to upper 90s, the temperature inside the home may be in the lower 80s, a range where many people remain comfortable.
This principle is also seen in nature. In pre-air conditioning days, many families would move from inside a hot home to underneath a shade tree. The tree draws many gallons of liquid from the ground through its roots that through the process of transpiration it flows through the trunk, evaporating through the leaves. As a result, the air under the tree would be much cooler than air inside a home or in the direct sunlight.
Many amusement parks also use the principles of evaporation to provide cooling for park guests on hot summer days. They use special nozzles that spray vapor into the air where it evaporates to provide cooling for guests. Park visitors stand in areas that have been cooled to lower their body temperature and prevent heat related illness.
In recent years, many military and other personnel that must perform their duty in outdoor areas have benefited from a gel filled neckerchief that is wetted before use. The gel retains the moisture for several hours allowing it to slowly absorb heat from the neck providing cooling as it evaporates. These are particularly effective for the troops serving in the desert Middle East.
Many homeowners use devices that connect to a garden hose to create a fine mist that surrounds the patio or other outdoor sitting area. These units help to cool the air without requiring a fan. They can make the area more pleasant on a hot summer day.
An ultrasonic water fogger added to an outdoor garden also produces a fine vapor of droplets that evaporate into the air. This addition can create cooling in the immediate area. It also adds interest to an outdoor garden, especially when combined with LED lights.