Products for thermoregulation, health and safety, and productivity, in the age of heat waves and forest fires.
The summer forest fire season here in British Columbia has been driving me crazy for many years now, and to alleviate some of the nuisance with it all I have tried out many types of consumer products that seemed like they could help. With each of these products I say whether or not I have tried them and I give a subjective rating out of ten.
1. Personal electric air purifier.
A couple months ago I bought a personal electronic air purifier and I think it might actually be useful this summer. 6/10.
2. Indoor air purification.
i) Low cost solution: box fan with dual Merv 13s. Untested.
Based on tutorials like this: https://marshallhansendesign.com/2012/01/02/studio-operations/
FilterBuy 20x20x1 MERV 13 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter, (Pack of 4 Filters), 20x20x1 – Platinum
ii) Moderate cost solution: standard portable air purifier. 6/10.
Bionaire BAP600-CN 99-Percent Permanent HEPA Air Purifier with Night Light
ii) Expensive solution: Industrial air purifier. Untested.
EnviroKlenz Home/Office Air Purifier.
3. Fireproof document organizer.
4. Fire extinguisher.
I cannot personally testify to the performance of this particular fire extinguisher, but it’s similar to mine, and listed at a pretty good price given that it has free shipping. It’s your classic “A:B:C class” extinguisher: “For use on Class A (ordinary combustibles), Class B (Flammable liquid) spills or Fires involving live electrical equipment (Class C)”. Untested.
Amerex B402 ABC Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher, 5 lb.
5. Personal misting and cooling.
I have tested a number of personal accessories meant to keep you clean and cool, such as: gel masks, cooling headbands, shemaghs, gel hats, cooling patches, neck gaiters, cooling mats, and spray bottles.
ii) Ergodyne Chill Its 6700CT Cooling Bandana, Lined with Evaporative PVA Material. 7/10
iii) Headsweats Protech Hat. 5/10
iv) 20 Pcs Cooling Gel Fever Patches,Cooling Forehead Strips. 1/10
v) Ergodyne Chill-Its 6487 Cooling Neck Gaiter. 4/10
vi) Ergodyne Chill-Its 6602 Evaporative Cooling Towel. 3/10
ix) COREGEAR USA Misters Personal Water Mister Pump Spray Bottle. 10/10
6. Indoor cooling.
I don’t recommend portable air conditioners like the one I have for the reasons detailed here:
i) Low cost solution: evaporative “swamp cooler”.
Consumers typically find these things to be underwhelming for several reasons: they raise humidity and they need to be replenished enough to be annoying. I have never used one, but I thought I would include the highest rated one I could see on Amazon in case it interests some readers.
ii) Expensive solution: window air conditioner.
MIDEA MAW05M1BWT Window Air Conditioner, 5000 BTU. Untested.
7. Bed cooling.
i) Moderate cost solution: directional attachments for your AC unit. 9/10.
Rather than buy an expensive cooling mattress, I have found it fruitful to jam a rectangular duct connector on to my AC unit and run a hose into my bed or to my laptop dock.
POWERTEC 70150 Rectangular Dust Hood for 4-Inch Hose
Hon&Guan 4 inch Air Duct – 32 FT Long
ii) Expensive solution: specialized bed cooling unit. Untested.
8. Other things I would like to try.
i) Cooling shirts.
Sony launched the Reon Pocket but it’s not available in North America yet for some reason.
If you want to buy a cooling shirt here in North America, you’ll have to settle for something like this:
Ergodyne Chill-Its 6665 Evaporative Cooling Vest
ii) Outdoor misting systems.
iii) Door seals.
