We’ve been lucky so far this summer to have mild weather, but those hot Los Angeles days, and nights, are coming. As temperatures climb toward triple digits, here are some tips for keeping your cool.
Get Out
No, you don’t have to leave LA to escape the heat. Just get outdoors. Head to the ocean for cooler breezes. The bike trail and walking path from Manhattan Beach to Malibu offers not just great vistas and the opportunity to exercise but a welcome respite from the oppressive inland heat. Find a map of local rides at Labikepaths.com.
Open and Close Case
Many LA homes were built to stay cool indoors during the summer months. Stucco in particular is energy efficient because of its air-barrier qualities, but the trick is keeping cool air in and hot air out. Open your windows at ni
ght and in the early hours of the morning, and fill the home with fresh, cool air. Then, before noon, close windows, blinds, shutters and drapes to keep cool air in and warming sun rays out. Learn more by reading Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Alex Wilson, Jennifer Thorne, and John Morrill.
Take it Outside
When the air is stifling inside, move your dining table, or even your family room or bedroom, outside. Dine al fresco under an umbrella or under the stars, invest in a deep seating patio set for lounging and socializing outdoors, and take make it a fun outing for the whole family by having a camp out in the backyard with sleeping bags. You can get everything you need, from outdoor furniture to camping gear, at Costco.com.
Live in Linen
Just as
linen is a great breathable fabric for summer clothing, it makes a wonderful and cool sleep surface. Italian bedding designer Magniflex took linen luxury one step further than bed sheets and created the Linen Experience mattress and Linen ComfortPlus pillows. The beauty of the line is that you can remove and launder the coverings, so you can sleep on them with or without bed sheets. Check out the new collection at Blueprint Furniture in Los Angeles or go to Magniflex.com.
To Air is Divine
Many Los Angeles homes and apartments do not have central air conditioning, but you don’t have to resort to a noisy and annoying desk fan or an eyesore window AC unit to move the air. The bladeless Dyson Air Multiplier is one of the coolest (in all senses of the word) new inventions that uses technology similar to that in turbochargers and jet engines to induce and entrain air. The result is quiet, even airflow, and a conversation piece. Find a dealer at Dyson.com.
