DIY Air Conditioning

Ancient Romans had air conditioning. In the summer, they would seal all their windows and doors, but open a hole in the center of their house down into a tunnel that travelled under their house for 20 feet or so, to the outside, and opened in a shady spot. This underground tunnel contained air cooled by the earth.

To draw cold air into the house, the Romans had a black-painted, 3 foot chimney on their roof. When the sun heated the chimney, the hot air inside the chimney (and house) would rise, and pull the earth-cooled air into their home. Since air in underground caves is 65 F year-round, this process cooled their homes considerably.

You may be able to cool your home by blowing the cool air from your basement through your duct work, or by aiming a fan up you basement steps. Alternatively you can freeze water in water bottles, place them in a dish drainer (set atop a towel to absorb condensation), and direct a fan across the ice filled bottles.

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, check out this air conditioner constructed by a student. This homemade air conditioner uses a fan, an ice water filled cooler and copper tubing. Note: you can pick up the zip ties used in this project at the dollar store to further reduce the cost of this project.

Add your questions & comments here!
See more Canadian deals, coupons, contests, $ & time-saving tips
Check out my other blogs.
Make ca$h blogging - http://join.zenzuu.com/infonut

DIY Cooling Scarf

A cooling idea from the folks in "The Land Down Under". The Watersorb site shows how to use polystyrene crystals to make cooling ties, vests, and helmets. Read testimonials on their site from service people in the armed forces who have found these useful even in the hottest of climates.

Although you can purchase the crystals from Watersorb, I wondered if there might be a cheaper source. I googled a few more sites, and...yup! You can use plant crystals. According to Debbie Colgrove at About.com Sewing , the crystals work great! (Debbie uses plant crystals from a gardening store.)

Hmm... I wonder if there are any reasons I couldn't use crystals from my local dollar store?

Add your questions & comments here!
See more Canadian deals, coupons, contests, $ & time-saving tips
Check out my other blogs.
Make ca$h blogging - http://join.zenzuu.com/infonut

Finch Birdhouse Plans

Q. Where can I find pictures or plans of finch bird houses to make?

A. Here are some links you may find helpful:

http://www.essortment.com/home/finchbirdhouse_szah.htm (no pictures, but very clear directions)

http://www.50birds.com/MPb0606-412-2.htm house finch plans

Photos of a house finch house for sale

Add your questions & comments here!
See more Canadian deals, coupons, contests, $ & time-saving tips
Check out my other blogs.
Make ca$h blogging - http://join.zenzuu.com/infonut

Dehumidifier-Cheap and Easy on Energy

Whew! Hot! How are you beating the heat? Living in Southern Ontario, the humidity makes the heat unbearable. I remembered seeing a bag of something that drained the water from the air when I was a kid so I went info surfing with google.Wouldn't it be great to beat the heat and save on electricity at the same time!

Homemade Chemical Dehumidifiers

These are made using a desiccant(something that dries things out) placed in a well ventilated container and located within an enclosed area. Some desiccants include: silica gel, calcium sulfate, activated carbon, clay, and salt.

Road Salt (aka Calcium Chloride)
The most common dehumidifier is made by placing a good amount of road salt in cheese cloth or plastic strainer and suspending it above a plastic bucket. The salt draws the moisture from the air, which then runs off into the bucket. Farmers have used this for years to prevent hay rot in barns.
+ Plus + readily available components, fairly cheap set up
- Minus - salt dissolves and has to be replaced; is highly corrosive when wet-causes metal to rust and skin burns

Silica Gel
You have probably seen silica gel in tiny packs inside shoes, purses, vitamins etc. This is also available as cat litter. Silica gel can be used instead of road salt, but you don't need the bucket underneath, because it absorbs the water.
+ Plus + Can be reused. No bucket to dump out!
- Minus - Higher set up cost. (Container of silica cat litter sells for about $5.17 at No Frills).
Does use some electricity
(oven or microwave needed to dry it out again see how to use & regenerate silica gel)

Keep Cool!

Add your questions & comments here!
See more Canadian deals, coupons, contests, $ & time-saving tips
Check out my other blogs.
Make ca$h blogging - http://join.zenzuu.com/infonut