(Credit: Eric Fry) Picture of an AC unit and Fan with a closed curtain to help cool off.
Those in older apartment buildings live without central air, a modern system to keep apartments cold. Without central air, people rely on portable AC units and fans to help keep them cool in the summer.
Some people have tricks they use to help them keep their apartments cool during heat waves.
“Collecting as many fans as I have in my ownership and putting them all in the one location that I am at,” says Bec Saunders, who lives in an apartment without central air.
“Putting towels around my air conditioning units in the window to try to stop the leakage of heat coming around the windows, making sure all the blinds and stuff are closed because sunlight makes it hotter. So you have to prevent as much sunlight as possible, which doesn’t feel great on your brain.”
But even with these tricks, the cost of keeping cool in the summer is high.
“My hydro doubles when I run the AC, so I go from about 40 bucks a month to over 100 generally in the summer.”
Saunders shares their apartment with their bird Charming and dog Cyrus. They require some extra attention during the hot summer days.
(Credit: Bec Saunders) Picture of a pet bird named Charming
“They get a lot of fresh water throughout the day. You have to cycle water constantly because even if they aren’t drinking, it’s evaporating. It genuinely does happen more in the heat. Also, I give my bird water spray baths when he’s very grumpy. This also is a way for them to bathe, but they seem to appreciate it when it’s hot. As for my dog, he’s pretty tiny, and he seems to be pretty okay with the heat, but he’s been panting.”
The current heat wave is expected to last into the weekend.
