scorching sun

SOME ‘COOL’ SUGGESTIONS TO BEAT THE HEAT

 

An escape from the scorching Sun…

The rich and resourceful people maintain two establishments: one in the mountains and the other in the plains. Come summer and they pack their bags and go off to their resorts. For those who are left behind, we offer a few less expensive ‘solutions’. This post contains a few suggestions, which have been tried and tested. We invite you to give us your ideas to add to the list, so that we may save ourselves from the wrath of the burning Sun.

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Number 1. A Splash Pool

Animals run to the nearest water body to cool themselves. Human beings go to swimming pools, but most of them are located far from our houses and quite often, they are over-crowded. And then, there is the risk of contracting infections. A personal pool is a luxury which very few of us can afford. A cheaper alternative is to build a splash pool, in your own backyard. Many years ago, I saw a diamond shaped pool in a house, which looked like what you see in the picture given below.

splash pool A diamond shaped pool about 10 feet by 6 feet dug into the ground

The ‘splash pool which I constructed in my house is a little smaller than this. It is 9 feet by 5.5 feet and is about 2.75 feet deep. It is above the ground, for reasons that are not far to seek. Here is what it looks like.

pool 

I fill it up to whatever level I like. It is large enough for two persons to ‘splash’ around at a time. I have devised several ‘strokes’ and at the end of an hour I come out cool and exercised.

 showing tap

The ‘pool’ has an inlet which you see in my right hand. By opening this, one can fill water.

 showing tap2

The other tap is at the bottom of the ‘pool’ By opening this, water can be drained out and used for irrigating our plants. So not even a drop is wasted. Here you see our help-maid opening the drain tap.

pool33 

At the end of the session, the ‘pool’ is covered with a bamboo chick, so that nothing falls into the water. A single filling remains fresh enough for about a week. All in all, the arrangement is a reasonably good substitute for a swimming pool

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Number 2. Bamboo Chicks

Bamboo chicks have been used to cool houses since several centuries. When air conditioners came, we seem to have forgotten their worth. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that their quality has improved, and the present ones are a lot more effective. Here I show you just one, which I have installed in my study room window.

chik 

Thanks to the insulation provided by the chick, my study room is effectively air conditioned by a 0.7 ton voltas air conditioner.

chik rolling 

When you roll up the chick you see the other side. It has an effective lining beneath for greater insulation.

 office

This is a view of the ‘study. Notice that the keyboard is kept covered, when not in use. It extends its life, and does not need to be dusted

dark 

If you switch off the lights, all you see is the LEDs of the UPS and indicators. The insulation provided by the bamboo chick is extremely effective.

blackout 

And if you switch off all the indicator lights, it is pitch-dark. The insulation ensures that no heat enters my study room. We have made a similar protection system in the bedroom.

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Number 3 : Energy Conservation and Rooftop Devices

In the olden days, the elders in the family used to go around switching off lights and fans. We were chided for being negligent. Today, lighting load has dropped to a negligible level. If you switch over to LED lamps, a 10 watt light can produce enough luminosity for a room. The power is now guzzled by air-conditioners and geysers. Come summer, and power cuts begin. You can contribute your two-penny worth to the society by installing roof-top solar heaters and ‘photo-voltaic’ panels to generate electricity. Let me remind you that such systems absorb heat and make the house cooler. Given below are pictures of the systems installed in our humble abode.

solar

This picture shows the solar water heater on the left and the power panels on the right

gen batra 

Our Degree course ‘gold medallist’ Gen Batra is seen with the solar water heater

batra 

And in this ‘Bravo’ Batra has climbed the ladder to the PV cell panels

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Number 4 : Be kind to your potted plants

Plants have life, and they also need to be protected from direct sunlight in the summer. These days, you can get garnish and with it, you can provide shade to them. Here is a picture of how we have done it.

protect green 

This covering may look flimsy, but it is quite effective. It prevents the plants from wilting.

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Number 5 Low cost air conditioning

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. We Indians are well known for being ‘jugaadoo’ I have read in the literature that a low cost air conditioner has been rigged up which costs no more than Rs 2000. It works on the principle of air being circulated around a block of ice kept in an ice-box. The device is known as DIY ( do it yourself ) air-conditioner. For more details, please browse through the net. A picture of one such contraption is given below.

diy ac 

The effectiveness of this contraption will depend on the efficiency of insulation of the room and of course, it will need a regular supply of ice.

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Number 6. A Spiritual Solution

I have listed this one at the end of my piece, though I think I should have given it a much higher place. When I was taking notes for this piece, I requested Ashwani to come and help me with pictures. He said he could come only early in the morning, because he was playing a cricket match in the afternoon! Cricket…at 2:30 PM in Chandigarh on 28th May. I was clean bowled!!!

Later during the day, I was reciting the ‘gurbaani’ and I read the ‘bara-maanjh’ (a supplication on the seasons at page 132-134 of the SGGS). In this, the Guru makes a mention of the scorching heat during the month of Aassaarh (which corresponds to May-June) and says that the heat of the scorching sun bothers only those who are not in harmony with the Lord. An extract from the scripture is given below, along with the English translation.

 

aasaarh tapandaa tis lagai har naahu na jinna paas.
The month of Aasaarh seems burning hot, to those who are not close to the Lord.

jagjeevan purakh ti-aag kai maanas sandee aas.
They have forsaken God the Primal Being, the Life of the World, and they have come to rely upon mere mortals.

jayhaa beejai so lunai mathai jo likhi-aas.
As you plant, so shall you harvest; your destiny is recorded on your forehead.

rain vihaanee pachhutaanee uth chalee ga-ee niraas.
The life-night passes away, and in the end, one comes to regret and repent, and then depart with no hope at all.

parabh tuDh bin doojaa ko nahee naanak kee ardaas.
Without You, God, there is no other at all. This is Nanak’s humble prayer.

aasaarh suhandaa tis lagai jis man har charan nivaas.
The month of Aasaarh is pleasant, when the Feet of the Lord abide in the mind!

 

 

  1. J Thomas says:

    Insulating the roof — in this case to keep warm. It also works to keep the building cool.
    http://inhabitat.com/19th-century-green-roofed-icelandic-church-is-straight-out-of-a-fairy-tale/

  2. J Thomas says:

    France Declares All New Rooftops Must Be Topped With Plants Or Solar Panels
    Read more at
    http://csglobe.com/france-declares-all-new-rooftops-must-be-topped-with-plants-or-solar-panels/

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Thanks a tonne!
      I have painted my roof. The results are encouraging, but not as good as expected. I have learnt a lot, and it is time to share the experience with our readers.
      Painting the roof is an inexpensive solution, and makes eminent sense.
      Surjit

  3. Dear Sir,
    I have gone through your article ,it was very interesting reading.
    Every aspect has been taken care of to bring down the temperature.
    Here I have a humble suggestion/ idea to add to the above :-
    If a particular room or the whole house needs to be cooled then design your roof top to be cast at a gradual slope and have a sprinkler at the highest place/point and regulate the water to flow over the exposed surface and making a provision to collect the excess water at the lower end for recycling. This process will result in evaporative cooling which will be very effective .

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Dear Bala Armugam,
      Looks like a good idea.
      Has any one tried it? If so, can you give us some more details?
      Surjit

  4. Krishan Garg says:

    Thanks Maj Gen for sharing the wisdom

    Regards

    Prof. K K garg

  5. Yogish Chander Mehra says:

    Sir,

    Imagine the heat dispensation in flats at Shankar vihar near A’port at Delhi. What they do, get the roof top painted with a special paint costing around 6K for 2 bedrooms. The difference is immediate & paint lasts for 1 year.

    If u try that with all what u hv accomplished, u shall be in SHIMLA.

    A wonderful content with appearance of Gen Batra for free.

    Regards,

    Mehra

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Dear YCM,
      Can you give us the details of the paint, its manufacturer supplier and the method of applying it. This seems to be an excellent suggestion, and needs to be given publicity.
      Surjit

  6. PK Melethil MS(Phys Chem) says:

    You are doing great work promoting conservation, Surjit. What better way to beat the heat than to use it to make power to keep the house cool. And India is having a bad year, with regard to the heat.

    Then there is the physical deterioration, associated with desiccation, that sets in when the air gets dry. As a tender organ, the lung also loses large quantities of moisture (body fluids) when an individual is exposed to RH values below 40%. If you choose to stay in an AC environment when the air is dry, the situation gets worse. This is because cooling the hot, dry air increases its ability to desiccate tissues. Sensitive groups, like COPD patients and asthmatics may suffer much more even at RH ~ 40%.

    Dry air is both heavier and more viscous, making respiration more difficult for frail people, considering that an average human being exchanges/respires ~ 15 cubic meters of air per day. For these reasons, humidifying the inhaled air, will relieve their distress. Cheap items like water bubblers and more expensive “swamp-coolers” will also help.

    A splash pool would be a lot of fun. Yours looks very nice.

    Be Well. Do Good.

    PK

    PK Melethil, MS (Phys. Chem.), MS (Env. Sci.), L. Ac., Dipl. Oriental Medicine
    Scientist & Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician

  7. PK Melethil says:

    Great work promoting conservation, Surjit. What better way to beat the heat than to use it to make power to keep the house cool. And India is having a bad year, with regard to the heat.

    Then there is the physical deterioration, associated with desiccation, that sets in when the air gets dry. As a tender organ, the lung also loses large quantities of moisture (body fluids) when an individual is exposed to RH values below 40%. If you choose to stay in an AC environment when the air is dry, the situation gets worse. This is because cooling the hot, dry air increases its ability to desiccate tissues. Sensitive groups, like COPD patients and asthmatics may suffer much more even at RH ~ 40%.

    Dry air is both heavier and more viscous, making respiration more difficult for frail people, considering that an average human being exchanges/respires ~ 15 cubic meters of air per day. For these reasons, humidifying the inhaled air, will relieve their distress. Cheap items like water bubblers and more expensive “swamp-coolers” will also help.

    A splash pool would be a lot of fun. Yours looks very nice.

    Be Well. Do Good.

    PK

    PK Melethil, MS (Phys. Chem.), MS (Env. Sci.), L. Ac., Dipl. Oriental Medicine
    Scientist & Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician

  8. Srimurti Saraswati says:

    thanx, very novel ideas
    Srimurti

  9. Satish Bhandari says:

    Thanks

    ASFIC
    MAY GOD BE WITH YOU
    SATISH
    website http://www.bagbani.yolasite.com

  10. KAPIL says:

    Sir,

    Very good ideas as usual.

    Another very useful trick is to insulate the roof top using a reflective paint (dry powder in a bag costing approx Rs 200) It is DIY and takes about 30 mins of one time work, ie coat the roof top which lasts for a season. The temperature inside the house drops between 3 to 5 degree C

    I have used it in two first floor MES houses in Secunderabad.

    However, I dont find this paint in Delhi for reasons not understood by me

    regards

  11. PRAKASH GOKARN says:

    Dear Surjit,

    Your mail as usual was educative, but excessive humidity in Mumbai makes it impractical.

    Besides, we cannot afford the luxury of houses.

    If one lives in a 1000 sq ft flat in Mumbai, it is luxury.

    A one ton air conditioner is enough to cool the entire flat.

    Was appalled to notice ‘Bravo Batra’s’ immense girth.

    Not good for his health.

    Regards

    Prakash

    • Surjit Singh says:

      PG,
      Thanks.
      Mumbai is a different world. You need to resolve your own problems…
      Bravo Batra says he is not obese. He is just healthy and prosperous!
      SS

  12. Mukund Apte says:

    Dear Sir,
    You are quite right in your feelings (to avoid getting accustomed to A/C use. As we knew in our school day (long back by 60 years) that In Nagpur (that was the hottest region in Maharashtra in Summer), when people come out of their A/C offices to go home in their car parks of offices, cases were in news papers that such people used to die while facing sudden heat outside their offices by the time they reached the Car Parks. And as per medical authorities as well there was a recent article teiing us that Cold kills more people that Heat waves. I am attaching that article herewith.
    To be frank, I feel that we make too much of the heat in summer. Our body temperature is 37 degrees centigrade for correct functioning. Why should we even feel the environmental heat when it it is less than 37 degrees at all? And we can surely get accustomed to the hot environment slowly as a routine, is it not? We have collected this wrong (feeling) habit (or व्यसन) from British people when they Ruled Bhaarat, I feel.
    Some of the suggestions in the enclosed (by you) article can be considered but only when we have adequate water for our own personal and agricultural use use as well, is it not? For that also we need to restore the forests that we have cut down for (misusing wood/timber) our needs.

    With regards,

    ——Mukund Apte

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Sir,
      In our house, we keep the air-conditioning temp at 28 to 30 degrees. And the timer is set to switch it off after we fall asleep. And we get up very fresh, and fit to go out for a walk.
      Surjit

  13. ASHOK JHAMWAR says:

    Namaskar !
    Prof. Apte no me very well but, the information which I am submitting here with is for others to as to who am I. I am a Naturopath propagating the concept of Health Culture in Pune since last about 40 yrs. I learned it through heritage as my father was a renowned Naturopath and Krida Maharshi who passed away at the age of 94 yrs. I am running 68 yrs. and I was born in the same month when my father was under going the Nature Cure course under Dr. kameshwar sarma of Pudukkottai , Tamil Nadu, the son of Late Acharya K. Lakshamana Sarma popularly known as Father of Indian Nature Cure. After the completion of my education and getting the job, I did formal study of Nature Cure under Dr. Jayanarayanji Jayaswal at Pune. But, I was fully trained through home learning both practical and reading book at home. Till date more than 200 articles written by me are published and many more still just written but, not published. I am regularly delivering lectures to propagate this concept of health Culture through Nature Cure.
    Now, comming to the point ——
    Last 48 yrs. i,e, since 1968 in every summer i.e. 4 months and in October, whenever I go out and I find the need of wearing a cap I use white, turkish cap well soaked in cold water and leave the house. By the time I complete my work and return home it is dry, my head remains coo. My friends call it as Jhamwar’s AC. Also, since, 1976, 1st January, all the 365 days I bathe with alternet hot and cold, 2 mugs, ending the bath with cold water. It is Passive exercise. Exercise – ralaxation and contraction of muscles for a desided no, of times, i.e. till we feel a pleasant feel of strain in the muscles. In this type of bath hot relax, cold contract. This I call as Passive exercies. I feel tremendous benefits in Health Maintenance, which is difficult to prove with the modern concepts of Proving Scientifically. It is ANUBHUTI which one has to experience through our personal, practical experience.
    All those who are interested to know can send me their e-mails with Name and Surname.. I will send some of my srticles through which you can understand this subject.Thanking you.
    With Regards.
    Dr. Ashok Jhamwar.Pune.

  14. dsmadan says:

    Dear 2997,

    Your out of box ideas make good sense .Keep at it .Satisfying and productively keeping busy at our young age.

    Regards,

    3000

  15. WAZIR 90 KUMAR says:

    take a shower every 03 hrs ,use ac at 26degree centigrade.you do not become prisoner of ac

  16. Indranil Banerjie says:

    Excellent, many thanks!

  17. neeraj varshney says:

    Another simple solution which I followed in childhood was take a bath with water and lie down under the fan on a chaarpai of hemp rope. It works like an ac and the surface on which you lie is also porous. Need some solutions for apartments also Sir. Can’t have splash pools there. A nice one and useful.

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Neeraj,
      Thanks.
      Splash pools can be built on apartments too. They are like large bath tubs.
      Surjit

  18. C Uday Bhaskar says:

    Received
    many thanks sir

    very appropriate ref. to guru N

    will share with my friends…..
    rgds
    UB

  19. colls Kohli says:

    where r the solutions
    heat waves coming to an end
    it showered around Delhi NCR
    pl hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry before the next wave.

    That’s the only reason we stay in Canada
    not to spoil the environment
    even they cry
    GLOBAL WARMING .

    Bless your stars
    there are so many power cuts
    that u r forced to entertain mosquitoes
    and save your breathing
    as you say
    and knees get knocked off
    at our age any way
    good, Surjit ji is what you say
    we will in the summer breeze
    hopefully sway
    hope the ECHS knows
    how to treat HEAT strokes
    of older folks

    AND IN CAPS
    don’t forget the lack of water
    even AVI has cancelled rain dance
    as the farmers don’t have enough to even drink
    where is the chance to swim!
    It’s a rich mans whim!

    Along with Colls now sing
    okay swing!

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Sir jee,
      We do not consume even one litre of water more than the others. The water in the splash pool lasts for about ten days, and then it is used for watering plants and washing the floors.
      Surjit

  20. Kishan Bhatia says:

    (This is a copy of a mail sent by KB to his friends)

    I received this request from our Army friends. If you or anyone at VA has practical solutions for the Summer Heat please feel free to share with us all.

    This a challenge for VA.
    Kishan Bhatia

  21. colls says:

    i submitted

  22. col vrk prasad says:

    very innovative ideas but not all places in India have lots of water. ,All the same I have been trying cool paint on the terrace and a green sheet to block the hot air over windows etc with reasonable success, though. few hours of AC has become unavoidable specially during the present hot season. Yes the simple innovations suggested are worth implementing.Thanks for sharing.

  23. Brig Harikumar says:

    Very innovative solutions .Thank you for sharing.

  24. Lt Col A P Pande says:

    Yes, AC at 27 deg saves u from catching a cold if u have to go out suddenly. Thick curtains are a good substitute for the bamboo chicks.
    Surjit Sir, thanks for the write up. Wish u happy blogging.

  25. Dave Sood says:

    Great collection of ideas.

    Little planning goes a long way in staying cool.

    I do have grass growing on our bed room areas. Mr FIXIT by pidilite is an excellent DIY to waterproof the roof. Pidilite quotation was in lacs and we diid it with 6 Large drums of 403 and one mason + Beldar in one week. Touch wood.it has been effective for many years.

    I like chic insulation in east and west will reduce my consumption further.

    thanks . Good brainy piece.

  26. yoginder sharma says:

    Interesting and full of innovative ideas- valuable piece, Surjit.
    Why is cleverness a preserve of EME/techies only? No wonder the dumb PBI has to hedge itself with higher reservation of promotion-prospects. Reservations is the birthright of intellectually deprived/underendowed. Chalo chalo aur smart-pan dikhao- write a few more clever blogs like this!

  27. Thanks for Great ideas.
    A few more:
    1. Set your A/C at 27 degree centigrade. There is no point in setting A/C at 22 or 18 degree and then using a small blanket or quilt.
    2. While travelling in an AC train, please tell the attendant to set the temperature not lower than 26 degrees.
    3. Our old desert coolers are very effective in May and June till Monsoon arrives. And desert coolers are environment friendly. A/Cs add a lot to the warming of our surroundings and then the global warming.

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Sir,
      We do exactly that. We set the a/c at 28 and the timer switches it off after an hour or two.
      Surjit

  28. Mahavir Jagdev says:

    Many years ago I was attending an exhibition at Pragati Maidan, Delhi. A Japanese company had put up a stall of 0.25 tonne airconditioners, similar to the ones used for cooling the computers in the 1970s. There was a double bed on which a transparent plastic canopy was fitted with a zipper on one side. I was intrigued by the contraption. The Japanese sales person explained – When you sleep, you want you immediate encironment to be cool, not the room, furniture and fittings. The 0.25 tonne AC is good enough to cool the bed under the plastic canopy. You bet the Japanes are innovative.

    And how about a Solar AC with a battery backup for the night. You can recover the cost within three years. The Chinese manufacture it.

    The solar water heater is no good during the foggy winters. The manufacturer recommends an electric heating element in the 200 ltr tank. I told him, “You want me to heat up 200 lts of water to take out a few buckets of hot water?” I found a more effective solution. I have routed the luke warm water during the foggy days through my geyser. It saves on electricity bill as the chilled water from the over head water tank is not routed through the geyser.

  29. Mahavir Jagdev says:

    Many years ago I was attending an exhibition at Pragati Maidan, Delhi. A Japanese company had put up a stall of 0.25 tonne airconditioners, similar to the ones used for cooling the computers in the 1970s. There was a double bed on which a transparent plastic canopy was fitted with a zipper on one side. I was intrigued by the contraption. The Japanese sales person explained – When you sleep, you want you immediate encironment to be cool, not the room, furniture and fittings. The 0.25 tonne AC is good enough to cool the bed under the plastic canopy. You bet the Japanes are innovative.

    And how about a Solar AC with a battery backup for the night. You can recover the cost within three years. The Chinese manufacture it.

    • Surjit Singh says:

      MJ,
      I also saw one such a/c in Pragati Maidan several years ago. In fact it was a portable device. I was hoping that such machines will become popular, because they result in large savings. But that has not happened so far.
      Surjit

  30. J Thomas says:

    Interesting article.

    Some more ideas :
    Insulate the roof, walls and windows.
    Waterproof the roof and grow a lawn or garden on the roof.
    Grow ivy or similar creepers to cover the walls.
    Where possible, plant trees that give shade.

    • Surjit Singh says:

      JT,
      Yes. We are working on that. Many friends have told us about a ‘heat reflecting paint’ I have bought a can, and hope to try it out soon. I will share the results.
      Surjit

      • J Thomas says:

        Heat reflective paint is reported to last just one year. It is suitable for tenants. But, if you own the house, it is better to install solar panels. Their shade keeps the roof cool.

        A further measure is to use flat Mangalore tiles as insulation. This also serves to improve the waterproofing. Still better to use hollow Mangalore tiles which give additional insulation.

  31. colls says:

    YES SIR JI SURJIT JI
    But first tell us how to get such a Palatial house
    I stay in a ”””SIGNIFICANTLY……””’
    small weeeeeeeeee FLAT
    as my car was stolen
    and now I am also flat!

    Howz zat!

    This I composed on your email so read it slow….

    Where r the solutions

    Heat waves coming to an end

    it showered around Delhi NCR

    Pl hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry before the next wave

    That’s the only reason we stay in Canada

    not to spoil the environment

    even they cry

    GLOBAL WARMING.

    Bless your stars

    There are so many power cuts

    that u r forced to entertain mosquitoes

    and save your breathing

    as you say

    And knees get knocked off

    At our age any way

    Good, Surjit ji is what you say

    we will in the summer breeze

    hopefully sway

    Hope the ECHS knows

    how to treat HEAT strokes

    of older folks

    AND….. (IN CAPS…)

    don’t forget the lack of water

    even AVI has cancelled Rain Dance

    as the farmers don’t have enough to even drink

    where is the chance to swim!
    It’s a rich man’s whim!

    Along with Colls now sing
    Okay swing!

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Dear CSM
      I marvel at how poetry comes out of you at the drop of a hat!
      Come and see…ours is a humble 350 sq yard house. But Surinder ji has kept it so well that it looks spacious, and gives us the comfort of a mansion.
      I bet Veena ji does the same! ( They are chips of the same block!)
      Surjit

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