Table of Contents
No AC? Ex-Observatory Head Shares 3 Cooling Tips
🎧 Listen to this article
The Observatory predicts that the urban temperature will rise to 35 degrees Celsius this Friday, making the extreme heat unbearable. Former Observatory director Mr. Lam Chiu-ying, known for his environmental concepts and practices, has repeatedly shared on various media and social platforms how to bring coolness to homes without relying on air conditioning. Decoration Master has compiled his "no air conditioning" cooling wisdom to find cooler and more energy-efficient solutions for your home.
The Double Impact of Global Warming and Urbanization
Hong Kong has been under scorching heat recently. Lam Chiu-ying earlier shared on his social media: "Tonight, an old friend guards me." This phrase expresses his years of persistence in trying not to use air conditioning, relying only on fans to cope with high temperatures. Not only does he practice what he preaches, but he also frequently shares practical home cooling methods, promoting a more environmentally friendly way to beat the heat.
Image source: Lam Chiu-ying Facebook
Lam Chiu-ying has pointed out that the increasingly hot weather in Hong Kong in recent years is the result of the dual effects of global warming and urbanization. He explained that global warming leads to an overall rise in temperature, while dense urban buildings, especially concrete structures, absorb a large amount of heat during the day and slowly release it at night, making it difficult for nighttime urban temperatures to drop. In addition, this year's global climate is further affected by the El Niño phenomenon, and it is expected to be the hottest year on record. He believes that the public must accept the fact that it will get hotter in the future.
Lam Chiu-ying's Airflow Guidance Method
Many people complain that just using a fan makes them "hotter." Lam Chiu-ying points out that this is often because they fail to effectively create indoor air circulation. His core concept is to use fans to establish a "unidirectional airflow system" that draws relatively cool outdoor air into the house and effectively expels hot indoor air. This system mainly consists of three steps: drawing air in, guiding the airflow deep into the house, and exhausting air out.
The configuration he recommends is: make good use of one or two exhaust fans or low-power USB fans to remove hot indoor air. At the same time, place a circulation fan (or a regular fan) at the air intake, whose key role is to effectively bring fresh air deep into the unit. Lam emphasizes that without this fan at the intake, outside air might be directly drawn out by the exhaust fan at the outlet, leaving the interior still stuffy. In this way, a through airflow path is established indoors, effectively removing heat and moisture released by the human body, greatly improving the perceived temperature.
Image source: Lam Chiu-ying Facebook
Precise Fan Placement for Cooler Temperatures
In addition to overall air circulation, Lam Chiu-ying has also shared fan placement techniques for personal activity areas to let the body feel cool directly:
- During work or static activities: Prepare a USB fan about 6 inches in diameter and aim it directly at your head and upper body. This localized airflow can effectively remove heat and sweat from the body surface, making you feel noticeably cooler. He even mentioned that even in a 33-degree room, with a small fan, the perceived temperature can be maintained at around 31 degrees.
- During sleep: It is recommended to use two small fans, one aimed at the head and the other at the shoulder area. This setup can create an airflow that is comfortable and cool enough for the human body, preventing nighttime stuffiness from affecting sleep.
Lam Chiu-ying added that these USB fans consume very little electricity. Even if run continuously for 20 hours, the electricity cost is only a few cents, making them a highly cost-effective tool for beating the heat.
3 Home Cooling Tips
Lam Chiu-ying's cooling philosophy goes beyond just using fans; he also advocates starting with lifestyle habits and home environment:
- Shower with room temperature water: He suggests taking a room temperature shower 3 to 4 times a day, or wiping the face and neck with a wet towel. The evaporation of water carries away heat, quickly providing a cooling sensation. He specifically points out that water heaters consume a lot of electricity; switching to room temperature water can both cool down and significantly save electricity bills.
- Adequate hydration: In high temperatures, the body sweats profusely, so it is essential to consume enough water. He recommends drinking about two liters of water per day to maintain normal body functions and replenish lost fluids.
- Breathable mattress: The heat during sleep often makes it hard to fall asleep. He recommends using a thin mattress with good breathability, such as a "nest design" or "honeycomb mattress." These types of mattresses have ventilation at the bottom, helping to reduce heat accumulation on the back.
- Curtains to block sunlight: Use curtains during the day, especially those with blackout effects, to effectively block direct sunlight from entering the room and reduce indoor heat buildup. He has proven that with curtains blocking, even if the curtain surface reaches 35 degrees, the indoor temperature can still be maintained at around 33 degrees.
Lam Chiu-ying: Environmental protection doesn't require risking your life
Faced with curiosity from the outside world about his insistence on not turning on air conditioning, Lam Chiu-ying clearly stated: "Environmental protection doesn't require risking your life." He emphasizes that a healthy body is paramount, and if he feels dizzy or unwell, he will definitely not insist on not turning on air conditioning. This shows that his environmental philosophy is not about blindly pursuing extremes, but about advocating minimizing energy consumption within personal tolerance.
He also reminds the public that sweating in hot weather is a normal physiological phenomenon, and there is no need to immediately turn on air conditioning. He believes that the public's general reliance on air conditioning leads to massive electricity consumption, which in turn emits more carbon dioxide, creating a vicious cycle of "being cooler now, but hotter in the future."
If it is really necessary to turn on the air conditioner, Mr. Lam Chiu-ying suggests choosing an inverter air conditioner equipped with a "Grade 1 Energy Label" and set the temperature to 27 degrees. He points out that the power consumption of air conditioning under this setting is relatively low, balancing comfort and energy saving.
From renovation quotes to moving in and beyond, comprehensive support every step of the way!
>> Get a Free Renovation Quote: https://hkdecoman.com/measure
>> Book a Home Clinic (Inspection/Cleaning/Repair): https://clinic.deco-x.com/
Specialized zones for various housing types:
>> Public Housing https://decoman-publichousing.com/
>> Private Housing https://decoman-privatehousing.com/
>> New Properties https://decoman-newproperties.com/
>> Tenement Buildings https://decoman-tenement.com/
================================================================
*** This article is reproduced with permission from Deco-Man ***
