It’s Summer! Summer’s here! Finally—it’s true! And I, for one, embrace the heat with an enthusiasm that rivals a three-year-old ten minutes after the Easter Bunny has paid a visit (but not 20 minutes after because we can all hear that crash coming). I crave sunshine so much that part of me truly wonders if I am, indeed, solar powered. Basically, I am a very happy girl during these few weeks of the year when I stop shivering. But how do I manage to maintain my goal of remaining green during a season that screams energy waste and depends on water guzzling?

Air Conditioning: Friend or Foe?

In many parts of the country, summer Heat comes to us holding hands with her less popular BFF, Humidity. If you’ve ever spent time in southern Ontario, for example, you know that the air can get so thick during the summer months that it’s often hard to breathe. There are air quality ratings and warnings. Yes, there are days when it is dangerous to breathe. Think about that for a second: too dangerous to breathe. Huh.

To compensate, enter the Air Conditioner. The saviour of summer. The device that makes it possible to (a) breathe and (b) remain in solid form and not turn into a puddle of goo. It’s entirely possible to live in an air conditioned bubble and encounter very little  authentic air from May—October: leave an air-conditioned house…quick Run To Your Car…drive to work in an air-conditioned car…if you don’t have access to an air-conditioned parking garage, you better Move Fast and get to your air-conditioned office, before doing it all again in reverse.

I’m not here to convince you to give up the blessed A/C entirely. I’m quite lucky here on the East Coast where there truly are very few days when humidity is a real issue. I will ask, however, that you take a second to evaluate if A/C is really needed before committing to living like a human popsicle for 3 months of the year.

•    Are you wearing sweaters to work even in July? Perhaps you could talk to your employer about limiting the A/C to key points of the day, or better yet, invest in fans. Fans do a remarkably impressive job at circulating air, and if you set multiple fans up in a room, you can create a blissfully refreshing cross-breeze.

•    Would you be equally as refreshed driving with the windows down and enjoying a refreshing summer breeze? Again, a question more for areas where there is a breeze…and not for you poor unfortunate souls stuck in traffic jams on hazy highways.

•    Do you really need the A/C on at home, all day, every day?

While many of us monitor heat usage in the winter time without a second thought, the same conservation mentality often goes out the window during the summer months. Don’t be fooled: air conditioning can account for “up to 50% of your electricity” bill, which is a huge amount! If turning the heat up a few degrees in the winter added the same ratio to your heating bill, wouldn’t you at least try to find alternative ways of warming up? Let the same be said for cooling down.

Again, after experiencing (and barely surviving) the absolutely inhumane sticky Ontario heat, I know I will only get tomatoes thrown at me if I sit here with the Atlantic Ocean breeze blowing my hair, wagging my fingers, and telling you that A/C is a non-need. I will, though, remind you of what an incredible energy-waster it is and ask for consideration before turning it on. Additionally, you can buy more energy efficient  models these days, which are worth exploring if you really must own an A/C.

Conserve Energy: Get thee to the Outside!

Summer is the perfect time to turn off those energy-guzzling appliances inside your home. Take a TV hiatus. Turn off the computer. Unplug the video-game system. Embark on an energy vacation and for the love of all things Canadian, go outside! Soak in as much of the wonderful outdoors as possible and conserve energy. Trust me, you will appreciate it once evil winter enforces hibernation amongst us (need I remind you of my Editor’s Note from March where I was, ahem, suffering from a mild case of the house blues?). Additionally, invest in a Barbeque and impose a moratorium on the oven. Barbeques use significantly less energy than a traditional oven, and who can deny the appetizing appeal of a BBQ?

Another easy energy saver in the summer is the clothes line. There’s really no reason to use a clothes dryer during this time of the year, when a load of clothes can hang to dry in a few short hours. I’ve gotten into the habit of doing a wash at night and hanging the clothes to dry in the morning before I leave for work. When I get home, I have dry (and fresh-smelling!) clothes waiting for me.

Water

Summer has become associated with water, with adults and kids alike engaging in water-sports, swimming being the activity of choice on hot days, and the ever-constant need to hydrate. Poor water gets a raw deal during the summer though as it is overused, under-appreciated, and often wasted.

Water Waste Activity #1 has got to be watering of lawns. Yes, yes, yes, we Canadians love our lawns and maintain a high level of pride the greener our grass gets. Unfortunately a green grass does not always equate with a living green philosophy, as  daily watering takes its toll on our poor resource. In fact, in many parts of the country, municipal regulations exist to limit or restrict completely lawn watering. As noted on the Environment Canada website:

The average suburban lawn may need about 100 000 litres of water in a growing season. Ironically, we often over water, only to have it run off, or burn off with the sun.

If you live in an area where you are allowed to water your lawn at will, here are a few tips to conserve the amount of water used to achieve a lush green lawn[1]:

•    Only water your lawn when it needs it. Grass is resilient and doesn’t need watering daily. Just like we only drink when thirsty, only water your lawn when it is dry. Environment Canada recommends 2-3cm of water per week and offers this advice on measuring water amounts: “place a few plastic containers around your lawn when you water. That way you can measure how much water has been applied.”

•    When you do water your lawn, do a soaking to ensure that water reaches deep down to the roots and lasts longer.

•    Consider using a timer or automatic sprinkler system, and consider the type of sprinkler you use. The best sprinklers, according to Environment Canada, are the ones where the water travels in a circle. Less evaporation occurs using this type of sprinkler than with the back-and-forth type (which is also more “susceptible to wind effects” blowing the water off course). Consider, too, at least combining using your sprinkler to water your lawn with child-friendly entertainment (i.e., water your lawn when there might be kiddies around willing to splash in the droplets for fun).

•    Only water your lawn either early in the morning or late at night: watering mid-day is useless as the water will evaporate quickly.

Other tips to conserve water in the summer include:
•    For your garden, consider planting plants/flowers that do not require a lot of water, and just like with your lawn, water your garden early in the day or late at night. Also, if you add mulch to your garden, it will help retain the water longer.

•    Pay attention to what type of flowers/plants you have—some flora actually require very little water at the start of the growing season and you might actually cause  more harm than good watering them.

•    Do not run the hose when washing your car—use a tub of water. After the car has been washed, consider using the dirty water on your lawn.

Local Food

Summer is one of the best times of the year to buy local. No matter where you live, you can usually find local produce. U-Picks are open and market stands spring up along the road. Along with supporting local farmers, consider starting your own vegetable or herb garden—you will enjoy “the fruits (or vegetables) of your labours” all summer long. Since my husband and I just moved into our new house, we have put our desire for a vegetable garden on hold for this year, so I do not offer myself up as an expert. However, Wes Porter of the Canada Free Press does offer some helpful tips on starting a vegetable garden.

Bugs & Burns

One of the drawbacks of summer is the increased risk of both sunburn and bug bites. I am a huge advocate of sunscreen as it appears I only have to say the word “sun” and my skin turns red.  The problem here is that while the sun and bugs themselves cause harm, often the very products meant to repel them also cause damage. Many sunscreens contain harmful chemicals, including parabens, which have been associated with many types of cancer. And in fact, “two University of California scientists believe that the rise in skin cancer is linked with increased use of chemical sunscreens. They say chemical sunscreens offer a false sense of security resulting in excessive sun exposure” (Source: Guide to Less Toxic Products). One of the main problems with sunscreens of any type is that most people do not use them correctly: “A study by the European Institute of Oncology shows that most people do not apply enough sunscreen to reach the level of protection indicated on the label. They say, in fact, an SPF-50 sunscreen applied at a typical less-than-recommended rate yields a practical SPF of only 2.” (Source: Environmental Health of Nova Scotia). The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia offer a list of organic and chemical-free sun products, but maintains that limiting sun exposure, especially in the middle of the day, is the best prevention against sunburns and skin cancer. Additionally, as hard as it might be, covering up (whether that be with added clothing, or a hat at least), also offers invaluable protection against the sun.

Similarly, many big repellents being sold to the public contain harmful chemicals. The most common chemical, DEET, has been known to cause harm to a person’s central nervous system. Within the past 10 years, DEET has no longer been allowed to be described as “child friendly,” and, in fact, it is strongly advised that no product containing DEET be used on any child under 6 months, with restrictions in place for its use on children between 6 months and 2 years (10% DEET applied once daily), and children between 2 and 12 years (10% DEET applied no more than three times per day). In adults, Health Canada restricts products containing DEET to a concentration of 30%.

If you live near, or will be visiting, an area with a high population of mosquitoes and must use a product that contains DEET, a few cautions to note:
•    It is better to spray clothing with the repellent rather than directly on the skin;
•    If skin must be sprayed, try not to spray on the hands, which could come in contact with the mouth;
•    Wash hands immediately after spraying;
•    Have an adult administer the product; and,
•    After returning inside, wash all sprayed areas of the skin with soap and water.

Natural mosquito repellents do exist. Many contain lemon oils or citronella. I often use a “mosquito patch” on my daughter — a natural product that is stuck on a child’s clothing or skin and emits enough citronella and lemon oil to repel mosquitoes. If we are in areas heavily infested in mosquitoes, I will spray a little repellent on her hat.

Enjoy your picture perfect green summer

Green is the colour of summer my friends, and we should all embrace it. What better feeling is there than reading a book outside on a warm summer’s day, watching neighbourhood children swinging on the swings while their parents walk the dog nearby, all the while anticipating the evening’s shared BBQ with friends, and listening to clothes flap dry on the line. Enjoy it while it lasts: The greener we can be now, the longer we just might get to do that.

Happy Summer!

[1] For tips on maintaining a healthy pesticide-free lawn see The Battle Against the Common Weed by Nancy Thompson.

Related posts:

1. Little Acts of Green
2. Little Acts of Green
3. The Battle Against the Common Weed