Thursday, July 8, 2021

TOTALLY ADEQUATE DO IT YOURSELF SWAMP BUCKET WINS
                       SEATTLE DARWIN AWARD NOMINATION

  July 8th 2021:

 Climate. Justice. Solutions  

SHOWS AIR CONDITIONING-AVERSE RESIDENTS OF AMERICA'S 7th WETTEST CITY 
HOW TO INCREASE HUMIDITY AND MISERY
 AT MODEST ENERGY COST WITH JUST  
2 FEET OF CLOTH, 3 FEET OF FOAM, 4 FEET 
OF HOSE, A 5 GALLON BUCKET, A 6 INCH FAN, 
A PUMP, A DRILL, A CLAMP, A KNIFE & A THUMBTACK 
Dear Umbra,
It is yet again a billion degrees outside this summer and I don’t know how to reconcile the fact that the fossil-fueled electricity used to power my air conditioner is contributing to these extreme heat waves. And now, to top it all off, we’re also being told in my city to conserve energy because the grid is under too much stress! I’m at a loss for how to keep my cool.
— Hanging Out, Torridly

Dear HOT,
You are living out one of the most acute conundrums of climate change... when the heat is uncomfortable but not necessarily life-threatening, there are lower-tech, less grid-impacting ways to cool down than air conditioning...
IF YOU'RE IN A CITY WITH 73% AVERAGE HUMIDITY THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING ON A SWAMP COOLER  HUMIDIFIER IN 100 DEGREE HEAT: