Summer is here in Tucson, and although it’s a “dry heat” as the people like to say, it’s hot as hell. When I open my door to go outside it reminds me of opening the door of a pizza oven right in your face! If you’re going outside to exercise, the best time is definitely in the EARLY morning – from sun-up to about 7:30 am. It’s the opposite of the winter time for most of the rest of the country – we stay in during day. In the evening, even with the sun down, it still takes a while to “cool” down.
You’d expect that there would be a lot of solar collectors, but it costs a lot of money to set up a solar system, and unfortunately there aren’t many high paying jobs in Tucson. I was thinking during my walk to the grocery store (with my reusable bag, of course), about alternative energy, since I had to walk past a gas station where today the lowest grade of gas was selling for $3.74. One of the problems here is that there is limited public transportation – try sitting outside in 108º waiting a half hour in the sun for a bus. NOT fun. NOT even healthy, unless you have a big bottle of water, and an umbrella, or at least a hat, and are wearing sunscreen! Most people drive in big SUVs and trucks – I wonder how long they’ll be able to continue to do that?
There are people who don’t even have air conditioners here. There’s a less expensive alternative that works for a good part of the season – it’s called a “swamp cooler” which uses an evaporative system with water to cool down the air. But coming from NY where it’s a lot more humid, that “coolness” from a swamp cooler feels like a day in NY heat. ugh!
Even if you do have the money to put in a solar system it’s important to first make your house more energy efficient, so that you won’t need so many panels! One of the most important ways is to caulk your windows and doors. If you can afford it, replacing old inefficient windows is also a great investment. It makes it a lot more comfortable in your house too, and it works in both cold and hot seasons. Insulation in your attic is so important – as is having venting so that the hot air can rise and escape out of the attic space. You can also plant trees on west facing areas to shade your home. There are some agencies that give away shade trees in Tucson. Maybe you can find something like that where you live.
Another good alternative is to use awnings to block the sun from hitting your west facing windows. We keep small fans going – the “wind chill factor” allows us to keep the a/c set at 80º, and I’m comfortable. Sometimes I go outside to heat up, and then come back inside to really feel chilled again!
I take solar showers when I can – in fact, the water in the hose is TOO hot! I’m doing my best to save water, and look forward to putting in cisterns to collect water with the monsoon season coming up (we hope!). Happily, I can report that we do have a solar panel to make hot water, and I’m thinking about getting a solar oven for cooking – but they’re still pretty pricey. Maybe I’ll look online for direction on how to make our own.
The point is, we have to pay attention to where we are wasting energy, and come up with creative solutions – and share them with others. Remember, we have to be the change that we want to see!