August 5, 2011
If your recent electric bill gave you a shock, you probably can thank your air conditioner. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and air conditioning your home account for 43 percent of your monthly utility bill.
The heat this summer has been so relentless, it's likely a necessary expense. We found some tips to help us all stay frugal over at 9 ways to cool down air-condition costs | Bankrate.com. Among them are: cover your windows, maintain your A/C unit, retreat to the basement
and the time-honored way--make liberal use of fans
.
August 4, 2011
Stuck in a downpour? Keep your precious Kindle
dry in an affordable TrendyDigital WaterGuard Waterproof Case.
It protects against any wet environment that Kindle (First, Second and Third Generation) might be subjected to.
The case guards against rain, frost, dust, and dirt as well as those accidental drink spills and splashing at the pool, beach or on the boat. The UV-stabilized material won't be broken down or discolored by sunlight. You can operate the keyboard and navigation button of your Kindle right through the case.
August 3, 2011
Having trouble sleeping these hot summer nights? Eliminate those noisy fans and cool yourself off without electrical power or refrigeration. This Sleep Assisting Cooling Pad
is a gel-filled pad that works by quickly reducing the surface temperature of your skin to several degrees below the ambient temperature. It continues to absorb your excess body heat for about 45 minutes. Lay this supportive pad on top of your bed or under the sheet.
July 27, 2011
One way to keep your home cool and save on air conditioning energy costs during hot weather is to close your blinds or your heavy curtains to block the sun. If you want to keep your view, Window Film is an inexpensive and easy way to make your home or office more energy efficient while providing UV protection year round.
The film blocks solar heat in the summer and helps retain interior heat in the winter. It is easy to apply and uses no adhesives, adhering on one sticky side.
July 25, 2011
Representative Michele Bachmann, who as you know is seeking the US Republican presidential nomination, has recently disclosed that she suffers from intense migraine headaches that necessitate emergency medical treatment.
Did you know that changes in the weather can trigger headaches and migraines for some people? Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.| Mayo Clinic explains these triggers include:
- Bright sunlight
- Hot or cold temperatures
- High humidity
- Dry air
- Windy or stormy weather
- Changes in barometric pressure
Why? "For some people, weather changes may cause imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, which can prompt a migraine. Weather-related triggers may also worsen a headache that starts from other causes."
Dr Swanson provides tips how to cope:
- Keep a headache diary, listing each migraine, when it happened, how long it lasted and what could have caused it. This can help you determine if you have specific weather triggers.
- Monitor weather changes and avoid triggers if at all possible. For example, stay indoors during very cold or windy weather.
- Take your migraine medication at the first sign of a migraine.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices -- eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and keep stress under control. These factors can help reduce the number and severity of migraines.
The effects that weather sensitivity, climate change, air, heat, cold, solar radiation and violent weather have on us are all presented in How the Weather Affects Your Health
by Manfred Kauser, along with preventative and remedial advice on weather-related disorders.
July 18, 2011
The Old Farmer's Almanac 2011
, which marks the publication's 219th anniversary, contains weather predictions for every day and climatic trends for each season, plus the science behind weather folklore. It also boasts "the most accurate astronomical data under the sun", with best-viewing recommendations for every month.
For instance, The Old Farmer's Almanac teaches nature's formula to estimate the temperature counting cricket chirps. The method:
To convert cricket chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get temperature. For example: 30 chirps + 40 = 70° F
To convert cricket chirps to degrees Celsius, count number of chirps in 25 seconds, divide by 3, then add 4 to get temperature. For example: 48 chirps / 3 + 4 = 20° C
or try this Cricket Chirp Calculator.
h/t Lifehacker
July 15, 2011
A car is not a babysitter, or a petsitter. In warm weather, our vehicles can become an oven in minutes, even with the windows cracked. The consequences for our children and pets can be tragic.
Summer Alert: Check the Back Seat |WSJ has tips to protect our trusting little ones from car-related heatstroke. According to the article deaths are most common in Texas and Florida, because of their climate. More than 500 children have died in hot cars since 2008 and in all cases there was a change in the caretaker's routine or a combination of stress and sleep deprivation with tragic consequences. Tips:
Put something in the back seat that you will need when you arrive at your destination. It could be a cellphone, purse or briefcase, and its placement should force you to see your child.
Keep a teddy bear or toy in the front passenger seat any time a child is riding in the back.
Have your day-care provider agree to call you at all your phone numbers if your child doesn't show up for day care.
Keep your car locked with the windows up even in the driveway and garage. Keep keys and key fobs out of reach since children are adept at getting in.
For more information and a newsletter, go to KidsAndCars.org
July 7, 2011
People we know and love are training to run 5K's in this brutal summer heat and humidity. The attendant symptoms of cramping, light-headedness, heat exhaustion and even worse are preventable. It's prudent to slowly acclimate to warm-weather exercise by learning how much one sweats, hydrating prior, wearing loose-fitting, suitable clothing and not over-extending.
Galloway's 5k and 10k Running
offers an easy and time-efficient system to train for, and complete a 5K or 10K race. This practical book is chock-full of expert advice, hints, and tips from a former Olympian who has been injury-free for over 25 years.
How to tell how much you are sweating? Pamela Reinsel Cotter: Condition your body for hot conditions | Projo.com offers a couple of ideas:
According to the professor [Dr. Brendon McDermott, assistant professor, Clinical Coordinator for the Graduate Athletic Training Program and co-director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga], everyone should determine their own sweat rate.
"Sweat rate is very simple to calculate," he says. Weigh yourself before exercise, with as little clothing as possible; exercise for a half an hour and don't drink or use the bathroom for that half hour; weigh yourself again, wearing the same amount of clothing to see how much you've lost," McDermott said.
But if you want quicker results, he says, "You can monitor your urine color. It should have a light yellow tinge to it. Lemonade is much better than apple juice. And if you're delving into the iced tea realm, it's time to drink. It's normal to have darker urine in the morning," McDermott said. "As for voiding frequency, some people are camels, other people urinate frequently."
Weather Gadgets
Air Conditioning Bills Giving You a Shock? Tips to Lower Cooling Costs
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