Written by Nick Simard on 8.06.20
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Things are starting to heat up as summer comes racing around the corner and your apartment can start to feel more like a sauna, instead of a living place. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay cool in those sweltering summer months without tossing and turning in bed to find a cool spot?
Using an Air Conditioner can eat up a considerable amount of energy and the costs of running one can rack up, fast. The average consumer in a New York apartment spent $0.20 per kWh, during June 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and averages 602 kWh per month. This can come to a total of $120 or more if an A/C is used in conjunction with other electrical devices and appliances.
What if I told you that it’s possible to stay cool in those exasperating months and what’s even cooler is that you can save yourself money by not using an A/C. Here are a few cost-effective methods you can implement to keep cool and save some cents.
If you want to get a better night’s sleep, in those hot, sticky months, then it’s time to change it up. Switch out those smooth, silky sheets for lightweight cotton. Sheets that are made from a breathable fabric, such as Egyptian Cotton and lightly colored materials are able to reduce perspiration and retain less heat.
Like Audrey Hepburn said, “Water is life and clean water is health”, drinking water is incredibly beneficial to our bodies and it can help to keep our bodies cool.
Drinking plenty of water when the temperature is high will aid in cooling down the body in two ways. When water is introduced into your body, the blood flow to the skin is increased because the blood vessels dilate and any excess heat is able to dissipate from your body. The second reason is so that your body can sweat efficiently and when the sweat evaporates, it cools the skin and in-turn cools the entire body.
The miracles of water don’t stop there, wash off the stickiness and sweat by taking a tepid shower and bring down your body’s core temperature.
Read More: How to Keep Cool in NYC — Without Air Conditioning
Not using your laptop or TV? then turn it off. The electrical devices in your home generate heat, so it’s best to switch off appliances and devices that aren’t in use to keep the heat down to a minimum.
Unfortunately, lightbulbs also generate heat but the great thing about summer is that we can all benefit from as much natural light as possible, right until the late evening.
Put your sheets in a sealable bag and place them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. This crafty trick won’t keep you cool all night long but it will provide immediate relief when it’s bedtime and help you to get a better night’s sleep.
There are numerous ways to keep your apartment and yourself cool this summer without breaking the bank, and they’re a lot easier and cost effective than you may think.
Topics: NYC Apartments , Renting NYC
