This week, we celebrate Earth Week and raise awareness for environmental crises like global warming — but we’re more than aware that it’s hot out.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that 26 areas in the country can expect dangerous temperatures as high as 46 degrees on Tuesday. PAGASA forecasts 28 areas to reach danger levels on Wednesday, April 23.
The extreme heat is inconvenient at best and fatal at worst. The Climate Change Commission (CCC) reported that from January 2024 to April 2024, seven people died from heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke.
Air conditioning certainly helps avoid these health risks, but letting the AC unit run for long periods takes up a lot of energy and drives carbon emissions. The International Energy Agency reported that carbon emissions from cooling reached a billion tonnes globally in 2022. AC units also use hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, contributing 3.2 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 and making the planet warmer.
Hotter climates promote the spread of communicable diseases like dengue and malaria, and also hurt natural ecosystems through bush fires and drought.
In 2024, 103 cities and municipalities in the Philippines declared a state of calamity due to the heatwave, affecting 2.1 million people, according to the El Niño Task Force. These numbers could climb to 11 million by 2030 and 47 million by 2050, the CCC said.
So what can you do to beat the heat without relying on air conditioning all the time?
Cooling Indoor Spaces
Cross-ventilation sounds technical, but it’s just the natural phenomenon of wind flowing through a space. To leverage this, open windows on two opposite sides of your room to allow the wind to push cooler air in and hotter air out. If the air outside is cooler than it is inside, placing a stand fan near a window can help draw the air in.
Switching to LED bulbs helps too, as they emit less heat and use less electricity, making your home both cooler and more energy-efficient.
In drier climates, evaporative coolers or swamp coolers can help bring temperatures down without releasing greenhouse gases. These coolers work by blowing warm air through water-saturated pads. As the water evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air, cooling it down. However, in humid climates like most of the Philippines’, the air is already saturated with moisture, so swamp coolers might just make you feel warmer and stickier.
Regulating Your Body Temp
Sometimes it’s not the room that needs cooling; it’s you. Wear loose, breathable clothes made from cotton or linen. Drink water regularly even if you’re not thirsty, as heat strokes can occur at a body temperature of 40 degrees or higher. Avoid hot drinks when you’re in a hot place. Throughout the day, you can also splash cold water on your wrists, neck, or feet. You can use spray bottles or damp towels.
And don’t be afraid to switch on your really loud handheld electric fan if that’s what will keep you from passing out.
