Autumn Years Summer 2024

BEST BETS

Staying Cool during the Summer By Dan Gallagher

A s gentle spring breezes give way to summer’s warmer temps, many without air conditioning or those determined to limit its use, whether for financial, health or environment reasons, will be looking for ways to keep their homes cool. This is especially the case given that the Forecasters from the Climate Prediction Center, which is affiliated with the National Weather Service, is calling for a hotter-than-aver age summer in the New Jersey region, along with most of the eastern United States. However, all is not lost. There are many simple, tried-and-true measures you can take to bring comfort back to the summer months. Use your windows wisely Open windows at night, paying particu lar attention to moving air through the home via cross breezes created by op posing windows and well-situated fans. During the day, if the air outside is hot ter than the air inside, keep windows closed with shades and drapes drawn to block sunlight’s heating effect. Weather stripping for the win We typically only consider insulation during the winter months, but inexpen sive weather stripping, which can be found at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart or any number of local hardware stores, can also prevent the loss of cool air around doors and windows. And you can apply it yourself in a matter of minutes! Updating attic and wall insula tion might also be worth its weight in home-improvement headaches; it helps

keeps the cool in during the summer, just as well as it keeps the cold out during the winter. Timing is everything The hot summer months are not the time to recreate the Great British Baking Show at home. Nothing undermines all your heat prevention methods faster than a hot oven. Opt for outdoor grilling and fresh no-cook summer menus—salads would do the trick ( see Food for Thought page 00 ). Save any necessary baking for cooler evening hours. The same goes for laundry; postpone dryer time for later in the evening or try some old-school line drying for enviably fresh linens. And also skip the drying cycle on the dishwa ter; just leave the door open and let the dishes dry naturally. Make fans work for you Situate fans in the coolest parts of your house and angle them toward hotter ar eas; place them in front of open windows at night to forcefully circulate cooler air; and consider placing a wet sheet in front of open windows with a fan in front to further cool incoming breezes. Finally, set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clock wise to push air down. Manage humidity While dehumidifiers will not lower temperatures, they can mitigate the oppressive wet blanket of sticky air that descends on more humid areas during the summer months. Humidity decreases the rate at which sweat evaporates—the body’s natural cooling process. Moderat ing humidity could mean all the differ ence between manageable and miserable summer months. By reducing the extra

moisture, a dehumidifier might also be helpful in dealing with allergies since dust mites and mold, which can irritate your sinuses, usually thrive in humid places. It is worth a conversation with your doctor. Time to replace incandescent bulbs Are you still using these old light bulbs, which give off a lot of heat? It is now time to replace them. In fact, if you need new bulbs, you will have to replace them. Last summer, they were officially banned in the United States because of their low energy efficiency. While there are other bulb alternatives, LED bulbs are especial ly popular because they are considered highly energy efficient. They do not cre ate the degree of heat that incandescent bulbs do and thus have a more positive impact on the environment. Create some shade Awnings over windows and porches can create shade where blazing sun might otherwise reign. Making your yard work for you by planting a tree, or several, may also be worth it. It may take a while to create enough cooling shade to significantly impact home temperatures, but mature landscaping adds beauty and value to your property in the process. Dan Gallagher is the owner of Gallagher and Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., in Hawthorne, NJ. He helps clients select auto and home insurance plans that meet their personal insurance needs and helps business owners choose commercial coverage for business property and liability.

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AUTUMN YEARS I SUMMER 2024