Sadly, the heat risk is now hitting the midwest and east
Malls and libraries have access to free air conditioning but still might be running warmer than usual in trying to both keep pace and conserve energy for the sake of the grid.
One big problem is that night time temps wonāt hit low enough to help make things more comfortable.
As someone who grew up in and lives in the South year round and has spent much of all my years in either triple-digit temperatures, āfeels likeā 100Ā°+, or at risk, some of our tricks include:
wait until dark to run dishwasher, washing machine, or dryer.
no baking or oven use for meals. We grill outside, use a crockpot or air fryer, or go with room-temperature or cool foods.
donāt open the refrigerator too much (yes, like all dads everywhere warn lol), and donāt hang out looking in it with the door open.
use darkening blinds, shades, and curtains to help keep heat out. You can even pin or magnet blankets over the windows to help block light and heat. If you do need sunlight indoors, open the curtains on a window on the part of the house where the sun has already passed, or hasnāt been yet.
try to stay home as much as you can.
drink more than usual, and more than you feel thirsty.
use standalone fans or battery-powered individual fans where/when needed (I have a vertical fan right next to my nightstand that I use at night, and one right by my workspace).
adjust your clothing and bed linens for the weather.
buy reusable cooling towels (and use them).
do outdoor chores (moving trash, recycling, collecting mail, restocking bird feeders, etc) in the late evening or very early a.m., in low light.
offer indoor shady spots for your pets to retreat to.
keep your pets inside and the water bowl filled and refreshed.
consider a cool bath before bed.
stock up on frozen treats (most cone with sugar free options).
Our local NY Public library branches serve as cooling centers for those who do not have air conditioning. Even our local PO sets up folding chairs in the lobby for those who need to cool off.
Yeah, the heat is finally getting here to NJ on Tuesday. So Monday plans are cooking quiche that can be reheated in the microwave for two more meals, boiling eggs for egg salad (goes great on toast with a can of sardines; sounds weird, but actually very good). and making a couple of different salads that Nisha enjoys (I do too, but not quite as much).
Also take the box fan outside to clean it off (the problem with cats; fur everywhere) and finally get around to putting the A/C in the dining room. Then the next few days I have nothing planned other than stay inside and work.
Iāll add a story about the heat in the NE. When I interviewed here for a job, I was living in Phoenix at the time. Came to NJ, had my interview, and drove back to the airport. I was running late (you canāt exactly tell the top manager "hey, can we cut lunch short?), so trying to change into travel clothes while driving, but it was 97Ā° and humid; I was so sweaty my shirt was stuck to me. Ended up missing the flight, which was great, because 5 hours later they pushed the plane back to the terminal; had I been on time, I would have been stuck out there in the heat.
Got back to Phoenix, worked my normal hours (7:00 - 3:30) and left work; got in my car, decided it wasnāt hot enough to use the A/C, and drove home with the windows down. It was 111Ā°, and felt FAR more comfortable than the 97Ā° in NJ. So yes, humidity matters, so I take it seriously (plus, to make it worse, Iāve had 25 years to lose the heat handling ability that you develop when living in the desert).
The humidity/dew point factor and any head on bright sunshine are the things that drain my heat tolerance, patience, and manners the quickest. When you are your own boiling pot of moisture, it takes a toll. Lots of folks donāt understand the constant dehydrating, skin irritating, heat rash inducing swampiness of wet heat.
From what Iāve heard, there are four main factors that have increased electricity use in the last few years (use was steady for quite a few years, thanks to things like LED bulbs and other efficient items). This is looking at overall usage, not peak or heavy demand periods:
In no particular order (but all in the same order of magnitude)
EV charging (but can easily be put off for short term for most users)
Data Centers for Crypto and AI
Increased industry brought back to US from foreign countries
Increase Air Conditioning use (on average; the main strain during heat waves for obvious reasons)
What Iāve not been able to find any data on is how usage should be adjusted for areas like NJ, where a very significant portion of the electricity comes from solar; much of it widely distributed (there are 3āx5ā solar panels on many of the utility poles) which means that the overall grid is less stressed due to power being generated right near the usage. Iām really not sure if running the dryer during mid-afternoon is better than late at night or not, nor how heat waves figure in (although I got totally caught up on laundry; wonāt need to worry for a week or so).
I remember when it was easy (back in the 70s); if it could wait, do it at night. But with some areas having a lot of solar and/or wind, I have no idea if that is still the best idea or not. Of course, best to cut back whatever is possible, especially during times of excessive stress.
For the record, just the solar panels placed throughout NJ on utility poles are reported to replace two large generating stations; thatās not counting the many solar farms spread throughout the state.
CITY: Historic avg high (Ā°F)
Syracuse NY: 77.8
Cleveland OH: 80.4
Erie PA: 77.7
Lansing MI: 79.5
Chicago IL: 82
ETA:
These are currently big areas of concern in my state, due to number, drain on grid, and how it could all affect tourism (centered around our natural beauty and resources).
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I finally got the last window unit installed Saturday to be ready for the heat. After carrying it from the attic down two flights of stairs to the dining room, I decided that next year, Iāll buy a newer lighter unit. Even if I spend $300, it will pay for itself in just a few years on savings from chiropractor trips!
(plus this one is pretty weird; only 4 settings for temp; āMight as well not be onā, āStill too warmā, āToo coldā, and āDonāt bother putting food in the fridgeā. But we got it for free, so canāt complain too much).
We have CAC provided by our building. We pay to run the units, which are ancient, and original to our building and Coned (Our local utility costs a fortune).
80 degrees is comfortable temp for us. Our ancient (1961) CAC units have no temp controls, other than on or off, and we happily face North and East in our apartment, and pull down the shades to keep the heat out.
It is 81 degrees outside right now in NYC, not anything I would call a heat wave.
That unit probably costs a fortune to run. Savings will continue beyond the medical costs with a new unit.
BUT - they donāt make em like they used to. Thereās nothing like the old freon when it comes to coolingā¦ Iād use it if I had it, rather than it going to waste and being released into the atmosphere and doing damage.
I spend time between NJ and PA at this time of year.
97 today here in PA.
Next 3 days will be spent at our home in Manasquan NJ where it is expected to near 100.
Very hot for mid June, usually donāt see those temperatures until August.
Heat doesnāt bother me but double coated hairy little dogs tend to be uncomfortable. Lots of cooling mats, sprinkler mats and doggie pools this weekend for sure.
Iām sure itās not as efficient as a newer one, but we donāt have to run it at all until the temp gets into the 90s for more than a single day, so total cost is not terrible. And I donāt think itās old enough to be the old freon; just a big unit.
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