July 1, 2009
Cripes, have you ever wondered why it gets so hot here in DC during the summer? There are many factors which can contribute to the long, hot and humid days here in Washington DC. The city only spans a total area of about 70 miles, but during a typical weekday, the total population can reach over 2.5 million. This includes standard residents in the District, commuters and those tourists. This equates to a lot of cars, buses, trucks as well as your standard industries emitting pollution into the lower parts of the troposphere. Large buildings also contribute to the urban heat island effect, as they trap some of the pollutants. Larger buildings also absorb the radiation emitted by the sun and heat the external facades. Our black roads also absorb large amounts of the sun’s radiation.
If you have ever walked on a street in your bare feet during a hot summers day, you may recall that if you jumped from white line to white line, it is much cooler. This is because the white paint reflects more, and absorbs less of the sun’s heat. The term “urban heat island” is derived from a combination of these variables. Most cities have an increased core temperature than the surrounding areas because of the locked in temperature. This is where the island term comes from; it is a localized specific area.
Did you know that Bermuda has an effect on our summers? Yes, call me crazy but it is true! Bermuda is very far away but it has an indirect effect on our weather! A large high-pressure system, with a clock-wise rotation sits off the coast of the eastern half of the United States during the summer. During most parts of the summer months, the area from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina Virginia, Washington DC and most of Maryland is under this large system. The downward splattering force of this system is what makes most of our days during the summer nice, hot and sunny. It is like paradise on your own back yard… kinda…
From this we can conclude that there are both man-made and natural reasons why Washington DC gets so hot during the summer.
What YOU can do…
You don’t have to subject yourself to these harsh conditions during the summer. If you have an air conditioner, have it on during the time you are home, when you are at work, raise the temperature to save energy and lower it once someone is in the house. This will cut back on energy, save you money and lessen the likelihood of a power shortage at the power grid. Fans also help; they reticulate the air and can lessen the temperature in a room by at most, 10 degrees. Having fans on a moderate setting with an air conditioner can lower the temperature in your home faster, thus saving you money as the high powered air conditioner doesn’t have to work as long.
Or, if you are feeling extremely proactive, consider the age of your air conditioner. How old is it? If it is over 10 years old, purchasing a new one might not be a bad idea. There have been many modifications in the development of new air conditioners, which make them more energy efficient, and results in you saving money! Before purchasing a new air conditioner, check out our website and find your local energy carrier, and see if they offer rebates. Some rebates are in the 200 – 400 dollar range!
www.earthaid.net
Going green saves you green$
Installing window blinds and shades limit the amount of sun coming into your home and can keep your rooms cooler. And, on days where it might be cooler outside, open a window and turn off the air conditioning. We don’t get many of those days down here, but if it is a cool morning, do yourself and the environment around you a favor.
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