It's supposed to hit the 80s this week, which makes it official. Maine's six (ok, eight) weeks of summer weather are here!

With last night being a bit muggy, I broke out the fan for the first time this year, and trained it on my poor, thick-coated dog, who needed it more than me.

But what about when it gets warmer? Short of buying another fan, I wondered what other ways there were to stay cool at home.

There's avoiding dehydrating drinks with alcohol and caffeine, and taking a cool shower, as the Maine CDC recommends.

Here's more tips, all of which happen to be "green":

* Cool your pulse points. Run cold water over the wrist for about a minute each hour. Or try splashing water on your temples or face. -LighterFootstep.com

* Easy with the electronics. Having all the lights on, the tv blaring, the washer going and the computer whirring is not just adding to your electricity bill, but generating heat. - eHow.com

* Try the Israeli air conditioner: "Drench some sheets in water (or wash some clothes) and hang them over the windows to let the water evaporate in the breeze, creating a lovely cooling effect." - Treehugger.com

Got other ideas? Let's hear them.

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