Stay Cool Without Tuning up Your Central Air Conditioner!

Humans lived for an extensive amount of years without the help of an air conditioner; in fact, the first modern electrical air conditioning unit wasn't even invented until 1902! Nowadays, it seems like nobody can go a day during the summer without relying on these units to provide cool air. There are a few drawbacks to using central AC units, of course. Air conditioners use a lot of energy, which costs money. This hot summer weather is going to last a long time; even when fall 2009 comes around, the weather will probably just be a few insignificant degrees cooler. Here are some tips you can use to stay cool without spending a fortune:

• Drink water! Yes, you've heard this before, but the fact is that most people don't drink enough water to stay hydrated (especially during the summer). Get water from a water cooler and dispenser, like the Vitapur VWD2636BLK. It can provide you with 50-degree cold water!
• Use a portable air conditioner or swamp cooler instead! These units can cool down your room or home quickly, and they don't use as much energy as central air conditioners! In fact, you can use an evaporative cooler like the NewAir AF-350, which only uses 200 watts of energy when cooling - it uses less energy than a normal desktop computer!
• Eat spicy foods! These foods make you sweat, which cools your body as it evaporates.
• Try not to use too many electric fans. If you have no other choice, use one fan that has a high CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating, such as the Air King 9230 electric floor fan. This powerful fan can circulate air up to 7,400 CFM! It is recommended that you don't use more than one fan, though. Fans are usually used to circulate air, so if you have too many fans pointing toward the same direction, you may just be circulating the hot air and making situations worse for yourself.
• Wear clothes made of cotton or silk. These fabrics don't retain heat, unlike polyester and rayon.
• Keep the blinds closed. It may be tempting to just keep everything open so that "fresh air" can come through your windows, but this actually makes your home much, much warmer. If you keep your blinds closed during the daytime, temperatures in your home can be up to 10 degrees cooler.
• Use products that contain mint or menthol. Mint soothes your skin and leaves a nice cooling sensation.
• Think cold. Have you ever heard of the man who froze to death in a refrigerator because he thought it was on when, in fact, it actually wasn't? Don't think that cold, but you can actually stay cool by thinking of cold places or by watching movies about cold places. Rent a movie such as Ice Age or March of the Penguins, sit back, and think about that temperature rather than the temperature you're sitting in. Your mind can help your body feel cooler when it actually isn't.

Central AC may sound like a good idea when you're feeling a bit warm, but it can also take a big chunk from your wallet if you're not careful!