Missoula has many pleasant summer days, 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, and even our pets? There’s a lot we can do to understand the risks, adjust our activities, and keep cool.

First, check out our smart 2 minute video (right).

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 of water. COVID-19 poses a new challenge because public cooling centers help with heat but increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19. 

​For more about the science behind our changing summers, click here.
VIDEO: How to "Weather" the Summer Heat
If the above film does not load automatically, download here. Worth it!

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.

Keep your home cool

Here 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!
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

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Fans
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Swamp Cooler
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Air Conditioner
fans

Pros

  • Cost. A typical box fan that can be placed in a window costs $15-$20. Many ceiling fans are available for $30-$60.
  • No maintenance required! Unless you count cleaning off the dust every once in a while.
  • No installation necessary for portable fans. Ceiling fans do require installation.
  • Low energy use. Fans are by far the most energy-efficient cooling option. And since they're only effective at cooling people - not the ambient air temperature - they're only necessary when you're at home.
  • Keep warm in winter, too, by running ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down. In summer, switch back to counter clockwise to cool.

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Cooling capacity. Fans are the least effective cooling appliance, since they only circulate air and do not cool it directly. They are most effective when people are present, since they directly cool the skin through evaporation or a "wind chill" effect.
  • Fans may be insufficient in homes with individuals who are at risk of heart attacks and heatstroke, including senior citizens, young children, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.
  • Use together with these Cool Tips.
  • Ceiling fans work best when they are 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
  • Larger ceiling fan blades ​provide more cooling than smaller ones.
  • Pitch ceiling fan blades at 12 degrees for greatest and most efficient airflow.
  • Turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room. Although fans cool people, large ceiling fans especially generate heat just like any appliance, so it's best to use them sparingly.
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!

Pros

  • Cost. The price range of evaporative coolers and air conditioners is similar, but evaporative coolers cost much less to run.
  • Simple to no installation​, depending on type. Whole-house swamp cooler installation is cheaper than central air conditioning installation.
  • ​Low energy use. Swamp coolers use 15% to 35% of the electricity needed by an air conditioner of the same size. (That's 65% to 85% less energy used!)
  • Low CO2 emissions because they don't use chemical cooling methods.
  • Quieter than air conditioning units, and sometimes quieter than fans.
  • Add moisture​ to dry air.

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Lower cooling capacity. Swamp coolers cannot lower air temperatures as much as air conditioners can, though they have a much greater cooling effect than fans.
  • Lack of temperature control. Evaporative coolers can reduce the temperature in a room by 5-15 degrees, depending on humidity. (The lower the humidity, the greater their cooling capacity). They cannot be programmed to cool down to a set temperature.
  • Regular maintenance required, including keeping water reservoir filled and changing moisture pads.​
  • Use near partially open windows. Even portable swamp coolers must be used next to open windows, since they draw in warm air from outside and cool it.
  • Experiment with how much to open windows. If they're open too wide, hot air will enter. If they're not open enough, humidity can build up inside.
  • To better regulate temperature and humidity, open windows in areas you want to cool and close windows in unoccupied parts of the house.​
  • The DIY swamp cooler on this YouTube video doesn't even require open windows.
  • Use together with these Cool Tips.
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.

Pros

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Cooling capacity.​ Air conditioners have the greatest cooling capacity of any appliance. Unlike swamp coolers, they can be set to a specific temperature.
  • Minimal maintenance. In general, yearly cleaning or replacement of filters is all that is needed.
  • Easy installation for most window units.
  • Cost.​ The price range of air conditioners and evaporative coolers is similar, but A/C costs much more to run and has higher maintenance costs.
  • High energy use. Air conditioners use 15% to 35% more energy than swamp coolers of the same size.
  • ​Uses chemicals that emit additional CO2.
  • May dry the air to an uncomfortable degree.
  • The noisiest of the cooling appliances.
  • Installation can be costly and more complicated for central air conditioners and some window units.
  • Proper sizing is key. An air conditioner that's too big for the area it's attempting to cool will perform inefficiently and ineffectively. It can also make your home feel clammy and uncomfortable.
  • Run sparingly. Set the temperature at 78 degrees or higher. At night, consider turning off the A/C and opening windows to let in cool breezes.
  • Keep it in the shade. Shading air conditioning units significantly improves efficiency and reduces energy use.
  • Clean or replace the filter regularly to keep your A/C running most efficiently.
  • Be Summer Smart. Cool your home by using fewer appliances, using shade, and keeping blinds closed during the day. More info on our Hotter Days Web page and Cool Tips infographic.
  • Remove window units in the winter. Otherwise, they can let cold air inside and increase heating costs.

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:
  • add insulation in ceilings and walls
  • seal cracks around doors and windows (include proper ventilation)
  • improve your windows (double or triple pane)
  • replace appliances with those that are rated "Energy Star"
  • insulate your water heater
  • Don't forget to change your lightbulbs. LEDs are super affordable now!
  • Add shade and grow trees or shrubs outside, especially on the south and west sides.  More about that here.
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...