(no subject)
I am pretty vehemently anti-AC.
-Part of it is having absorbed my New Englander dad's belief that freezing in winter and roasting in summer builds character.
-Part of it is environmentalism- besides the immense use of electricity, I just found out that the refrigerants in AC have massive global warming effects.
-And part of it is just for comfort- I find that being in a nice cool 72 degree building makes going outside into 90 degree heat much worse than if I'd just been in that heat all day. It's impossible to dress to be comfortable in a building with AC such that you can then go outside into the heat without changing- you'll be too cold inside or too hot outside.
Now, I must admit, I have an AC running right now. The furry tyrants run the risk of heat stroke if it's over 80. I've put up a curtain to try to keep the AC in the open floor plan living and dining rooms, but it's not as good as a door. If I had any idea how to choose a contractor, I'd get someone to build my dream dutch doors between the hall and living room, creating insulation, a nicer appearance, and additional ferret security.
Regardless, my original target for this post was "strategies to stay cool without AC." I think most SCAdians know the basics: natural fabrics in a loose fit, cold foot soaks, rest during the heat of the day (easier to do at Pennsic than an office job that has no respect for seasonal rhythms). Some other tricks I was not aware of:
-Tuning windows for maximum airflow.
-Keep the sun out. This is actually a list of tips, including exterior awnings, shade trees or vines, and shutters. I'm interested in the shutters idea; right now I use closed miniblinds for a similar effect, but they're inside my house, so some heat's already come in.
-Part of it is having absorbed my New Englander dad's belief that freezing in winter and roasting in summer builds character.
-Part of it is environmentalism- besides the immense use of electricity, I just found out that the refrigerants in AC have massive global warming effects.
-And part of it is just for comfort- I find that being in a nice cool 72 degree building makes going outside into 90 degree heat much worse than if I'd just been in that heat all day. It's impossible to dress to be comfortable in a building with AC such that you can then go outside into the heat without changing- you'll be too cold inside or too hot outside.
Now, I must admit, I have an AC running right now. The furry tyrants run the risk of heat stroke if it's over 80. I've put up a curtain to try to keep the AC in the open floor plan living and dining rooms, but it's not as good as a door. If I had any idea how to choose a contractor, I'd get someone to build my dream dutch doors between the hall and living room, creating insulation, a nicer appearance, and additional ferret security.
Regardless, my original target for this post was "strategies to stay cool without AC." I think most SCAdians know the basics: natural fabrics in a loose fit, cold foot soaks, rest during the heat of the day (easier to do at Pennsic than an office job that has no respect for seasonal rhythms). Some other tricks I was not aware of:
-Tuning windows for maximum airflow.
-Keep the sun out. This is actually a list of tips, including exterior awnings, shade trees or vines, and shutters. I'm interested in the shutters idea; right now I use closed miniblinds for a similar effect, but they're inside my house, so some heat's already come in.