Life Kit Podcast Summary: "How to Keep Cool While Saving Energy"
Life Kit, hosted by Marielle Segarra, explored practical ways to stay cool during the summer while minimizing energy consumption and combating climate change in its episode titled "How to Keep Cool While Saving Energy," released on June 23, 2025. Featuring insights from NPR's climate solutions correspondent Julia Simon and Dorit Aviv, an assistant professor of architecture at the Weizman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, the episode offers five actionable tips to help listeners maintain comfortable indoor temperatures efficiently.
Introduction
Marielle Segarra opens the episode by sharing her personal experience with the summer heat in New York, noting temperatures soaring to 98 degrees. She highlights the common reliance on air conditioners (ACs) to stay cool but points out the significant electricity consumption associated with their use, which contributes to climate change. To address this, she introduces Julia Simon, who delves into eco-friendly cooling strategies.
Tip 1: Open Windows for Natural Ventilation ([00:58])
Julia Simon begins with the simplest energy-saving tip: open your windows. She explains that sometimes the indoor temperature can be hotter than outside due to heat produced by electronics and daily activities.
"What people don't realize is that the inside temperature is sometimes hotter than it is outside because people inside of buildings produce heat constantly." — Dorit Aviv ([01:06])
Marielle questions the effectiveness of this method across different climates, to which Julia responds by emphasizing its best use during cooler times of the day, such as early mornings and evenings. She introduces the concept of "night flushing," a technique where windows are opened at night to release accumulated heat.
"The tip is open a window. Bonus points if you can open up two windows on opposite sides of your space to get a nice cross breeze." — Julia Simon ([02:11])
Tip 2: Utilize Ceiling Fans Before Air Conditioning ([02:13])
The second tip encourages the use of ceiling fans instead of immediately resorting to ACs. Marielle admits her interest in installing ceiling fans after hearing Julia's recommendation.
"Ceiling fans. I actually should get one." — Marielle Segarra ([02:23])
Julia and Dorit advocate for ceiling fans due to their energy efficiency. Dorit highlights their advantage over ACs:
"They're so much more energy efficient than air conditioners." — Dorit Aviv ([02:29])
Additionally, Julia references Australian research indicating that fans can reduce energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 76% compared to air conditioners.
"A group of researchers in Australia found that using fans compared to air conditioners can reduce energy use and related greenhouse gases by 76%." — Julia Simon ([02:34])
While ceiling fans don't lower the air temperature, they enhance the cooling effect by circulating air, making spaces feel more comfortable without excessive energy use.
Tip 3: Install External Shades to Block Heat ([03:13])
The third tip focuses on managing sunlight exposure with external shades. Julia explains that traditional indoor shades or curtains primarily block light but not the heat associated with it.
"The sunlight that's coming in, that is bringing in light is also bringing in heat." — Julia Simon ([03:52])
She shares her experience from Vienna, Austria, where she met Sebastian Schublach, who introduced her to external shading solutions. These shades are installed outside the house and can be adjusted manually or automatically to block sunlight before it enters the home.
"This is basically a shade that's outside the house, going down vertically. You can make it unfold using a switch or it can be automated." — Sebastian Schublach ([04:29])
Marielle inquires about the availability of such solutions in the U.S., and Julia confirms that external shades are readily accessible through major shade retailers, often priced comparably to indoor options.
Tip 4: Seal Cracks and Openings to Prevent Heat Exchange ([05:08])
The fourth tip involves sealing any cracks or openings in the home to prevent unwanted heat transfer. Julia provides a brief physics lesson on the second law of thermodynamics:
"Heat will always try to escape from a hotter region to a cooler region." — Julia Simon ([05:14])
Dorit elaborates on this principle, explaining that both in summer and winter, gaps around windows and doors can lead to significant energy loss or gain.
"So it's actually part of the second law of thermodynamics." — Dorit Aviv ([05:17])
Julia recommends using rubber weather stripping tape around window frames and doors to seal leaks. She emphasizes that these materials are affordable and can be easily purchased at hardware stores or online.
"Buy some tape or rubber. This is called rubber weather stripping tape." — Julia Simon ([05:48])
Tip 5: Apply Reflective Coatings to Your Roof ([06:09])
The fifth and most ambitious tip is to make your roof reflective. Julia explains that roofs absorb a significant amount of heat from sunlight, which translates into increased indoor temperatures.
"So much sunlight. The sunlight carries a ton of heat. And when the sun hits your roof, that heat is absorbed through the roof and gets translated into heat inside your home." — Julia Simon ([06:20])
Dorit advises painting the roof with a reflective color, such as white or silver, to deflect rather than absorb sunlight. This simple retrofit can substantially reduce the amount of heat entering the home, decreasing the need for air conditioning and lowering energy bills.
"If you can paint your roof with a reflective color like white or silver so it absorbs less heat." — Dorit Aviv ([06:57])
She suggests consulting with a professional roofer knowledgeable about reflective paints to ensure effective application.
Conclusion and Recap
Marielle Segarra concludes the episode by summarizing the five energy-saving tips:
- Open Windows: Utilize natural ventilation by opening windows, especially during cooler times of the day, to create cross breezes.
- Use Ceiling Fans: Enhance cooling with ceiling fans before turning on air conditioners to save energy.
- Install External Shades: Prevent heat gain by using external shades to block sunlight.
- Seal Cracks and Openings: Improve home insulation by sealing gaps around windows and doors with weather stripping.
- Apply Reflective Roof Coatings: Reduce heat absorption by painting the roof with reflective colors like white or silver.
Marielle encourages listeners to implement these strategies to create a more energy-efficient and comfortable living environment while contributing to the broader fight against climate change.
Additional Resources
For more insights on energy efficiency and climate-friendly home improvements, listeners are encouraged to explore other episodes of Life Kit, including topics on significant purchases to lower electricity bills and the benefits of electric cars. Visit npr.org/lifekit for more information and to subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter.
Credits
This episode of Life Kit was produced by Sylvie Douglas and edited by Neela Banerjee and Meghan Cain. The visuals were crafted by Becky Harlan, with Malika Gharib handling digital editing. Executive production was led by Beth Donovan, supported by Andy Tagle, Claire Marie Schneider, and Margaret Serino. Engineering support was provided by Simon Laszlo Jansen and Marielle Segarra.