9 Budget-Conscious Heatwave Tips

Expert Medical Advice from Dr Ross Perry

Featured In The Mail on Sunday

As temperatures rise in the UK, the Mail on Sunday published an article outlining how to keep cool without spending loads of money on expensive gadgets or air conditioning.

The article sought expert advice from GP and Cosmedics founder Dr Ross Perry and suggested 9 ways to stay cool.

1: Turn your desk fan into an air-con unit

Air-conditioning may be an effective way to cool a room but it is expensive both to buy and run with the cheapest units starting at around £250.

A desk fan costs under £20 and uses around 1% of the electricity that aircon consumes.

The article suggests a few tricks to get more benefit from your fans:

• At the end of the day, once the air is cooler outside than in, point your fan towards an open window to pull in cooler air. That’s a more efficient way of cooling your room.
• Try putting a bowl of ice in front of your fan, so that it circulates cooler air. A metal bowl could help keep the ice frozen for longer.

2: Hang towels outside your window

It’s well known that closing curtains during the day blocks out some of the heat, but around 90% still gets through. As an extra layer, hang light coloured towels or sheets outside south facing windows to block out more of the heat.

3: Freeze and chill your essentials

You can put bed linen and pyjamas in the freezer to help cool you down at bed time. Here are a few more ideas:

• Fill a hot water bottle with cold water and ice
• Moisturisers and sunscreen kept in the fridge have a nice cooling effect when applied
• Chilling aloe vera is especially cooling

4: Cool your ankles, feet and wrists

Ankles, feet and wrists have pulse points, so keeping them cool helps manage body temperature.

• Run your wrists under a cool tap
• Dip your feet in a bowl of cold water

5: Turn appliances off standby

When appliances such as TVs and computers are on standby they can still generate a surprising amount of heat. Switch them off.

If you still have conventional incandescent light bulbs they also lose up to 90% of their energy as waste heat. Switch lighting off when it’s not needed and move to LED models to cut bills and heat.

6: Only use the car A/C on faster roads

The AA says that the inside temperature of your car could reach 60C. However, air-conditioning increases its fuel consumption by about 10% and open windows can also increase fuel consumption due to the ‘drag’ created.

• Slow driving (less than about 45mph) – open windows is cheaper
• Motorway/faster driving – air-conditioning is more effective
• Air-conditioning has to work harder to cool a hot car, so it’s less efficient on short journeys than long. Open the windows when you first drive off to clear the hot air

7: Refill your water bottle for free

Drinking plenty of water is essential in the heat. You can now fill up water bottles for free at many locations including Costa Coffee, Greggs, Morrisons, National Trust, English Heritage properties

8: Fill up your fridge with water bottles

Fridges work most efficiently when they are around 75% full, so pop a few bottles of water to reduce any wasted space.

Check the seals are intact as any hot air will force the fridge to work harder.

9: Avoid using ovens

Oven cooking adds heat to the house. Try to use the microwave,  BBQ or just eat cold food instead. Any of these is also cheaper to run than an oven.

Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics told the Mail on Sunday:

“Keep meals light as heavy meals will only keep you awake and stop you from getting a good night’s sleep when it’s hot.”

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Read the article in full on the mail website: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11020681/amp/Mail-Sundays-budget-boosting-tips-breeze-heatwave.html (registration required to read in full, subscription may also be required).

Dr Ross Perry

Ross qualified in 1994 at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London. His career includes NHS skin cancer reconstruction, work as a GP, as well as private cosmetic skin treatments.

He established Cosmedics Skin Clinics in 2003 and remains in charge as Medical Director. He is renowned for natural-looking use of non-surgical cosmetic and anti-ageing injections and is especially well known for dealing with unwanted skin lesions and blemishes (e.g. moles, cysts, warts skin tags).

Dr Ross Perry is frequently called upon by the media for his expert insights and comments on skin and beauty-related issues.

DR ROSS PERRY

SKIN TREATMENTS

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003. Over the last 19 years, it has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical skin treatments.

The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers. In addition, there is a range of medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics has 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol. Treatments are carried out by GMC Registered Doctors and Surgeons.

Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk to book an appointment.