Summer can be pleasant in Missoula, but we’re also experiencing hotter days and warmer nights. When these are extreme, there are consequences. How can we best take precautions and look out for each other, our kids, our neighbors and even our pets? There’s a lot we can do to understand the risks, adjust our activities, and keep cool.
Check out our smart 2 minute video (right). PLEASE drink plenty of water, curtail exercise, seek shade, and never leave kids or pets in the car. Over the long run, we need to plan and build a future better suited for heat, with cool places to go, abundant shade, comfortable homes, and lots and lots of water. For more about the science and changing summers, click here. |
VIDEO: How to "Weather" the Summer Heat
If the above film does not load automatically, download here. Worth it!
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2021 - we highly recommend these:
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What are the risks?
Exposure to high daytime heat can be dangerous, especially the longer you’re in it and the more active you are. Engaging in vigorous physical activity or simply working outdoors when it’s in the 90’s or (gulp) triple digits puts us at risk from heat stress – both heat exhaustion and heat stroke. (Learn about the difference - and why it matters - here.)
Everyone is at risk when it is HOT, but especially young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic pre-existing conditions (respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes). Extreme heat can kill - both directly via heat stroke, and indirectly via increased risks of heart attack and stroke - especially when those with pre-existing conditions encounter high temps. Prolonged heat also makes many of us grumpy. We can get agitated, depressed, and quick to anger. You've probably seen this in babies, kids, adults, even yourself. If we can help one another stay cool, we can enjoy Montana summers just a little more gracefully. Click here to learn more about Climate and Mental Health. There are lots of great resources for health risks and what to do. Check out OSHA or CA. Need convincing it's getting warmer? Head to our page on Local Climate Indicators. |
What can you do?Keep your home cool by following the tips on this page.
Spend time in water, like the Clark Fork River, ( take care of it when you do!) or one of the city's splash parks.
Be sure to check the weather so you know if extreme heat events are headed our way. You can even download a cool app for your phone.
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Keep your home coolHere we have cool tips as well as an accordion menu comparing Fans, Air Conditioning, and Swamp Coolers.
Do you have favorite ideas of things that work (or don't)? Please share here! (click to open new window) Shopping for a cooling device?
Here are some things to consider. cost
Remember to consider not only the up-front cost of purchasing a cooling appliance, but also the costs of installation (if any) as well as the longer term costs of operating it. Fans are the cheapest option. The cost of purchasing a swamp cooler or air conditioner varies widely based on the type and the size of the space they can cool, but air conditioners are much more expensive to operate. cooling capacity
Air conditioners have the greatest ability to significantly cool a room or home. They offer more precise temperature control than swamp coolers or fans. installation
Will you choose a portable appliance, or one that requires installation? effects on humidity
Swamp coolers add moisture to the air, while air conditioners dry out the air. Fans have no effect on humidity. maintenance
Swamp coolers require regular upkeep, air-conditioning units require yearly maintenance, and fans require almost no maintenance. energy use
Fans use the least energy, followed by swamp coolers. Air conditioners use the most energy and also emit CO2 directly from the chemical cooling process used. choose the energy star
Created by the U.S. Department of Energy, this certification can be found on cooling appliances that operate more efficiently and use less energy. personal needs
ost people can tolerate moderate levels of heat in their homes. However, some people - including senior citizens, very young children, pregnant women, and those certain pre-existing health conditions - are at greater risk of heat-related illness. complementary cooling
Different cooling appliances can be used together to increase effectiveness and save energy. For example, using fans helps reduce the amount of air conditioning needed. Using Shade, being Energy Smart, and following these Cool Tips can also reduce how often you need to use cooling appliances. |
Fans, Swamp Coolers, and Air Conditioners
fans
Pros
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evaporative coolers aka swamp coolers
Evaporative coolers use water to cool the air in your home. They work well in Missoula's dry summers and can add moisture to the air to increase comfort.
Smaller models can be portable or window-installed. Roof-mounted swamp coolers are also available to cool entire homes.
If you're a DIY person, you can even learn how to make your own swamp cooler for cheap on this cool YouTube video!
Smaller models can be portable or window-installed. Roof-mounted swamp coolers are also available to cool entire homes.
If you're a DIY person, you can even learn how to make your own swamp cooler for cheap on this cool YouTube video!
Pros
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air conditioners
Air conditioners have the greatest cooling capacity of any cooling appliance. They use chemical refrigerants and can be set to a specific temperature. To save money and use them most efficiently, use A/C in conjunction with these Energy Smart and Cooling Tips, and run A/C only when necessary.
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Cons |
Tips for Best Use |
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Help create cooler homes for all Missoulians!
We need to improve sub-standard housing, build more affordable housing, and improve the efficiency of all our buildings. And of course, join in the effort to find climate solutions from the local to the global scale. We can adapt only so much to a warming world. Learn more about our collaborative Building(s) for the Future work. |
Create a super cool home all year round....
Home improvements that "weatherize" homes or businesses help not just in the winter, but the summer too. You can:
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Additional Resources:
How Urban Heat Islands threaten public health from Grist
Half the world could see deadly heat waves by 2100 from Climate Central
Heat Wave Risk Perception from the Yale Climate Change Communication. Feb 2017.
Heat Risk from the National Weather Service.
Heat Island Community Actions Database, from the EPA. We'll see how long this link works...
How Urban Heat Islands threaten public health from Grist
Half the world could see deadly heat waves by 2100 from Climate Central
Heat Wave Risk Perception from the Yale Climate Change Communication. Feb 2017.
Heat Risk from the National Weather Service.
Heat Island Community Actions Database, from the EPA. We'll see how long this link works...