Fragile

A heat wave is a bad thing, but 'This is absolutely miserable' - Los Angeles Times.

"This whole experience has made me realize how fragile this city is," he said.

Los Angeles is suffering a long, devastating heat wave wherein temperatures have not cooled down at night the way they usually do. Sixteen people have died from the heat so far, and many thousands of customers have lost electrical power.

As citizens of Baghdad know, losing power in extreme heat can be dangerous to your health. People die from lack of air conditioning.

Our infrastructure is aging; energy needs outstrip supply; climate is becoming more extreme. Our cities are, indeed, fragile.

Do you have a plan for what to do when/if the power goes out? Winter? Summer?

Folks - first thing to do if you are out of power in a heat wave is to make sure your glass windows are covered up. Hang cheap bamboo blinds over your south and west facing windows. If you have money and time, install awnings, but in the meantime, cover up those windows. Baking sun on glass creates a mini solar oven.

People on comment boards in L.A. are screaming about installing solar panels for power, but as reader Alison has said in this blog recently, solar electricity is an inefficient way to mitigate our energy needs. You want to make passive solar adjustments as quickly as you can. You can't make a tall tree grow overnight, but you can figure out other ways to shade your house or apartment. Put up shutters. (outside the glass is better than inside, but even inside shutters are better than flimsy curtains). Figure out the prevailing winds in your area and work your windows to take advantage of them. Open up windows at the top of your house and crack things open at the bottom, to get the hot air chimneying out. (This only works at night, when the temperature drops)

And yet I must say that our own, un-airconditioned Bay Area house only stays cool because the nights cool off here. When it doesn't cool down at night, we are uncomfortable. This heat wave in L.A. really was a killer. Let's hope it eases up tomorrow.

The solution to climate change clearly does not lie in running the AC more. Wake up, people!