With the temperature rising this week, we found six ways to stay cool without AC:

1.  Unplug unnecessary electronics and turn off the lights. Electrical appliances emit heat, and TVs and computers are some of the hottest.

2.  Keep your shades down.  It makes a BIG difference . . . especially in rooms that face the sun.

3.  Open windows, but only if it’s cooler outside than inside.  As soon as the temperature starts to drop in the evening, open doors and windows to get a breeze going throughout the house.

4.  Put cotton sheets on your bed.  Unlike flannel or silk (??), cotton sheets let your skin breathe.  They even wick away moisture from your skin so you wake up less sweaty!

5.  Put your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer.  They’ll stay cold longer–enough for you to fall asleep on a hot night.

6.  Grill  your meals instead of using the stove.  Hot summer days are a great time to fire up the barbecue and keep all that cooking heat OUTSIDE.