40c temp London next two days possible

[Könchok Thrinley]

Lots of good ideas here for cooling down European (and American) cities - https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesig ... ing-cities.
Solutions start with light-coloured roofs and lots of trees, but the article starts with a truly scarily stupid approach now appearing in Dubai.


Kim

This!

We have to change our cities and change them fast. Plant trees in the cities and around them. Green roofs are an absolute blessing in so many ways. Not cutting the grass during summer or at least not cutting it so much that you are left with dirt only. Also collecting rainwater is great.

In one part of Brno the local green mayor actually started her green project years ago and thanks to her staying in position it actually bore fruits. Now even despite energy crises the houses are so well insulated they pay 1/3 compared to other city parts. From the municipality budget only 3% of resources go towards energies in schools and other city owned buldings due to usage of modern technology, good insulation and other policies. They also planted trees and catch water from the roofs of the houses and store it in a pond that cools down surrounding area and houses many birds and insects.

So it is possible. We just have to think beyond the 4 year mandates.

[Miorita]

Which got my wheels turning. Just for me an infinity pool! ... That'll be good enough.
I could wet my tail in it and ahhh ... cool down the temperature.

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

Just for me an infinity pool! ... That'll be good enough.
I could wet my tail in it and ahhh ... cool down the temperature.

I’m saving up

[Kim O'Hara]

Just for me an infinity pool! ... That'll be good enough.
I could wet my tail in it and ahhh ... cool down the temperature.

I’m saving up

Sorry to rain on your parade, folks, but after a run of really hot weather the water in an infinity pool can be too hot to be refreshing, even too hot to be comfortable - it will get up to high 20s, low 30s. And you would, of course, be swimming there in full sun, and burning.

(BTW, all those pink English people flocking to the beaches and sitting in full sun in the heat wave are absolutely nuts!!!)

And of course you wouldn't just use it one week per year. The cost of heating the water the rest of the year would blow your personal carbon budget all by itself. Not to mention the carbon cost of the pool itself... don't even joke about it.


Kim

[Kim O'Hara]

Here's a longish read full of expert advice about coping with heatwaves. (Aussies, of course, have had more practice than Europeans or most Americans.)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-23/ ... /101257350

...Heatwaves are Australia's deadliest natural disasters.

So how does the body respond to heat and what can we do to protect ourselves from extremely hot weather?
What happens to our bodies in extreme temperatures?

According to Ollie Jay, professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney and head of the Heat and Health Research Incubator, there are three main pathways that can lead to death when humans are exposed to extreme heat.

Be forewarned, they are all pretty nasty...

What can we do to cool down?

How we handle the heat comes down to both our physiology and our behaviour.

On the eve of a heatwave, there is not a whole lot you can do to improve your physiology, but you can definitely change your behaviour.

Nicole Vargas, lecturer in exercise physiology at the Australian National University Medical School, is an expert on our behaviour and heatwaves.

Behavioural responses to heat include things like drinking enough water, reducing physical activity and seeking shade ... self-dousing, foot submersions, wearing wet clothing, using evaporative coolers, misting fans, electric fans, ice towels, and drinking water. ...

Kim

[Miorita]

Just for me an infinity pool! ... That'll be good enough.
I could wet my tail in it and ahhh ... cool down the temperature.

I’m saving up

Sorry to rain on your parade, folks, but after a run of really hot weather the water in an infinity pool can be too hot to be refreshing, even too hot to be comfortable - it will get up to high 20s, low 30s. And you would, of course, be swimming there in full sun, and burning.

(BTW, all those pink English people flocking to the beaches and sitting in full sun in the heat wave are absolutely nuts!!!)

And of course you wouldn't just use it one week per year. The cost of heating the water the rest of the year would blow your personal carbon budget all by itself. Not to mention the carbon cost of the pool itself... don't even joke about it.


Kim

A water fountain is always a breeze. It's sukha from Sukavati.