Spend More Time Away from Home to Stay Cool

The less time you and your family spend inside your home, the more you can save on energy costs.

Inch your home’s thermostat up a couple of degrees and enjoy the hottest part of the day someplace else. Here are a few ideas:

Head to the mall on a hot afternoon. Shops are air conditioned and open to the public, so you can spend the hot afternoon window shopping or hitting the food court. Make your way home once the sun sinks low and it’s a little cooler outdoors.

Set up a couple of portable fans and a big umbrella on your patio and fire up the grill for a family cookout.

Prepare a buffet of cold side dishes, like coleslaw, a fruit platter, a plate of raw veggies with dip, and cheese and crackers, so there’s nothing to cook except the main dish.

Spend an afternoon at the public library enjoying the air-conditioned space and reading a book you’ve been meaning to get to. Bring the kids, too, so they can finish up their summer reading lists.

Put on your bathing suit and set up a sprinkler in the backyard for some old-fashioned summer fun with your kids or grandchildren.

Head to the pool or local swimming hole for an afternoon dip to wash away the heat. A neighborhood splash pad does the trick too. If you’re not near a body of water or park with a splash pad, then consider a quick cool shower to lower your body temperature.

Go see a movie and enjoy being entertained and cooled at the same time.

Whether you’re indoors or out when the temperatures soar, drink plenty of fluids—even if you don’t feel thirsty. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and use sunscreen when outdoors. Bring water with you wherever go.

By the time you head home, the day will have cooled into the evening, and chances are good that you won’t have to adjust the thermostat.