Get my new e-book “Surviving in the Age of Extreme Heat”
The book is over 150 pages of transcripts from the best scientists, authors and experts on extreme heat. It covers everything from the ways heat can kill, what you can do, and what to expect as climate change unfolds. These are the key interviews from the Radio Ecoshock show, with an introduction by Alex Smith and a final chapter on ideas for surviving when high heat strikes. All the links to original source documents are there for you to follow up.
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2. I will see your donation and email you within 24 hours with your copy of the book as a .pdf file.
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This book helps anyone understand the greatest and most deadly danger from climate change. Students, activists, journalists, and any human on the planet can use this searchable source. You can copy parts of the book for your blogs, Tweets, articles or posts (but do not copy the whole book, or sell any part of it for commercial use). None of this important information was taught when you went to school. Now with the West burning, and heat records set all over the world, heat itself is becoming a number one killer in the world. Everyone needs this information.
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Thank you Alex. Love radio ecoshock. Watching the climate train wreck unfold down under since 1991. Denial to fatalism coupled with pathetic “NET zero ” accounting ,,mascerading as action.
Are there any mentions in the book of ancient or forgotten strategies for coping with high heat? I think this would be helpful given the likelihood of widespread grid collapse, as well as the realities of densely populated areas of the world with little or no access to AC.
You are so right Stephanie. My interview guests in the book did not cover this topic. I recall some buildings in Iran and Afghanistan (in Medieval times) had special ornate windows that acted to draw air. Of course thick walls helped, but only to a point. In longer modern heat waves building mass can eventually heat up and then keep the interior hot even when it cools down outside.
The Moors also specialized in courtyards with shade and fountains.
I do talk about the utility of having a basement if possible. In my village, which gets very hot, the older families often had a second living room and sleeping areas in the basement. Works without AC…
Air conditioning hides increasing heat dangers. Lots of people in developed countries can just stay inside during a heat storm, until as you say, the power goes out…
I just received your book, and it is excellent and thorough! True to form, you give credit and voice to the researchers as well presenting the research. I love this. As for ancient techniques, there is a Wikipedia article about “windcatchers” (Persian; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windcatcher) that I find intriguing. It includes links to other ancient methods, including those utilizing subterranean cooling as you mentioned above. Another interesting and related technique is that used by the Earthship builders in New Mexico, using underground pipes to cool air as it enters the home. We will all need to innovate and find solutions in energy-sparing ways in the coming decades, appropriate to our locations. All ideas are going to be welcome. Thanks again for all your work! I’ve been with you since 2012 or so, listening every week.