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(TNS) Voting machines throughout Connecticut were damaged on primary Election Day due to high temperatures, election officials said this week.

Norwich and Stonington registrars told The Day that multiple machines at polling locations in the two municipalities malfunctioned during the state's primary election on Aug. 9. Approximately 50 machines were affected throughout the state, according to the Secretary of the State's office. Machines that were not at air-conditioned polling locations partially "melted," officials say, and were unable to tabulate vote totals.

With low voter turnout and only Democratic and Republican primaries for the Secretary of the State and U.S. Senate, Norwich and Stonington election workers were not made to stay much later than usual to count ballots, and none of the vote counts were affected by the machine errors.

"At first we began opening new tabulators not knowing what was going on. Once we lost more tabulators we realized something is happening due to the heat," Stover said. "At the end of the day we opened tabulators in air-conditioned facilities and ran all those ballots through. We only had to do that for one of our stations. We had three tabulators at that specific location that melted down during the day, so we were unable to get any numbers off of them because they were completely nonfunctional."

"All those ballots came back to the office, where we have air conditioning," Stover continued. "We opened a new tabulator, ran our ballots through, and got our numbers for that station."

"We had to pull some of them out to get them into air conditioning," she said. "It definitely affected our workers in a negative way. Some became sick and were vomiting, some of them were dizzy and faint, I'm sure other towns had similar issues."

Stover said the registrars' office is "in the process of trying to locate more facilities that have air conditioning so we can eliminate this problem."

Stonington Republican Registrar Peggy Roberts said two machines in town were damaged.

"Our first problem arose at Stonington Fire Department at two in the afternoon during a really hot part of the day," she said. "We didn't have any fans going in there. In some of the towns where they pointed fans at machines, they didn't melt down. At first we didn't know what the problem was, but then we understood it was overheating. We have backup machines for all the polling places in Stonington, so we remedied the problem that way."

Another machine malfunctioned at Pawcatuck Middle School around 6 p.m.

"We have moderators who are used to solving problems, but this was unusual, because the rubber on the roller was liquifying and leaving a stain on the ballot," Roberts said. "The machines are getting a little older and I know that [former Secretary of the State Denise Merrill] has talked about a plan for replacing them in the near future. Now that she's not running again, it'll be left to the new secretary to do that."

According to an emailed statement from Secretary of the State Mark Kohler, none of the state's election results were affected by the machine errors. He said that the exact issue was "some of the adhesive that is placed on the rollers to assist the machine in pulling the ballot into the scanner softened in the extreme heat of some of the polling places."

Towns are required to have emergency plans for such situations.

"In most cases this means continuing the vote and placing the ballots into the side auxiliary bin of the black box," Kohler wrote in his statement. "At the end of the election night, those ballots can be run through a functioning machine or hand counted. It is our understanding towns were able to use a back-up machine later in the evening once the temperature cooled."

The machines in question were provided by LHS Associates, which describes itself as "the largest provider of election services in the Northeastern U.S."

Local registrars say Ryan Butanowicz, an election technician for LHS Associates, has been charged with repairing all of the machines in the state. Butanowicz declined to comment and referred The Day to Jeff Silvestro, who is president of the company. Silvestro did not return a request for comment. The Secretary of the State's office said the state buys the machines and transfers the title to towns.

"So many melted down in the state that we opted to wait to call the repairman," Stover said. "He knows we need it, but we're saying, 'We know you're busy, keep us in mind, we'll call you in a couple weeks to see how things are doing.' We happen to have extras because we used to have more polling stations. We're hoping that even if they don't get to us, we will be able to have enough of these tabulators for the general election in November."

"Of course it won't be hot in November, so we shouldn't have any further meltdowns," Stover added.

Kohler said he believes the machines can be repaired by replacing the rollers, and that his office is currently looking into how it can help with the repair, and possibly replacement, process. He described the primary day problems as "a unique situation of extreme heat."

"Our voting machines have served Connecticut consistently and honorably for 16 years. Although old, our voting machines remain the most reliable and durable in the country," Kohler said in his statement. "The simple technology that they are based on has been proven by the test of time. We do realize that in the near future, a newer model of the machine may be considered."

That said, replacing all of the machines would cost nearly $40 million, Kohler said.

"We do think that towns will need to consider heat-related issues (due to global warming) in the future and may need to reconsider polling locations that may have air conditioning regardless of the machine," Kohler added. "All voting machines are now computers and none of them are designed to endure extreme heat."

Groton Republican Registrar Kristen Venditti said that Groton was able to avoid such issues as almost all of its polling locations are air-conditioned. One polling location was not air-conditioned so the equipment was moved to an area with air conditioning, Venditti wrote in an email. Signs directed voters to the new location.

" Town Building Director Bob Charette and the school superintendent's Building Director Sam Kilpatrick were crucial in making our day as comfortable as possible, as well as Town Manager John Burt and Superintendent Susan Austin completely supporting our Election needs," she added.

East Lyme did not have any issues because all of their polling locations were air-conditioned. Democratic Registrar Wendi Sims said far from being too warm, poll workers were asking for jackets on Aug. 9. She was relieved East Lyme escaped the fate of other nearby towns.

Registrars' offices in Montville, Waterford and New London did not respond to requests for comment.

(c)2022 The Day (New London, Conn.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Connecticut Voting Machines, Poll Workers Impacted by Heat - Governing

The EcoFlow Wave is rated with a cooling power of 4,000 BTU, and it's advertised as able to cool a small area in just 8 minutes. Of course, that speed will depend largely on how wide the space is, and those figures were calculated for an area of 8 square meters. That's about the size of a four-person tent, so small bedrooms and small offices are a piece of cake for the Wave. EcoFlow says you can even use it outdoors in the open air, though its cooling efficacy will definitely take a hit.

If you do need to have the cold air directed to a specific location, you can easily attach the cold-end outlet shroud in the front. Like all air conditioners, the Wave works best if hot and cold air don't mix, which might be difficult if the hot air is also being pushed out in the same room. With that said, the cold air that the portable A/C does push out overpowers the hot air that it produces. If you really want maximum efficiency, though, you can attach the hot-end shroud to the back and have the two hoses directed to a different area outside of the room or tent. That's not necessary, but the option is there if you have a way to pump the hot air outside of the room, such as through a window or other opening.

Another typical consideration for A/Cs is the water condensation they produce. Most of the time, this requires that a hose be connected to drain the water, which can be inconvenient for portable air conditioning units. This is where the EcoFlow Wave's smart design comes in. Depending on where you live or how you're using it, you might not have to drain it at all. The Wave takes the water it produces and sprays that onto the internal condenser, making it evaporate on its own while cooling the component in the process. This works best in low-humidity environments where water buildup is minimal.

In high-humidity locations, you might need to drain the water manually by connecting a hose to the drainage outlet. The hose doesn't need to be connected all the time, though, and the A/C will automatically turn itself off if its water basin is full and there is no hose connected. This failsafe lets you use the Wave without cables or hoses for a period of time, allowing you to drain the water at your own convenience.

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EcoFlow Wave Portable Air Conditioner Review: Keeping Cool The Green Way - SlashGear

Montana has grappled with days of record-breaking heat this summer. As climate forecasts project heat waves to become more common and more intense in the future, research on the impacts to residents outside of major urban cities is limited.

We have like 16 fans going," says Alyssa Alsop. She lives in a subsidized apartment complex in Columbia Falls with no air conditioning. She says its been so hot inside, her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter has been sick.

"She started puking every night, probably a good three times a night. Im like, 'shes too hot.'

Alsop says rules at her apartment complex and the cost of air condition units make it really difficult to cool down. She tried keeping her front door open at night, but she says that provided only an hour or two of relief. That made her resort to other methods to keep her daughter cool.

"I would give her three, four cold baths, but how many times can I do that, until you know, I have to work. Yeah, it was a constant headache, really.

She eventually took her daughter to the emergency room.

Montana broke multiple daily temperature records this summer, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Marty Whitmore. He says many parts of the state are seeing more days over 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit every year due to climate change.

Montana State University professor and lead author of the Montana Climate Assessment Cathy Whitlock says Montanans, especially those in rural areas, may not be prepared for these temperatures because most have historically lived without air conditioning.

It affects the old and the very young, people far from services, people with health conditions, people who live in poverty that dont have access to cooling systems," Whitlock says. "That covers large areas of Montana, and I think its probably our number one concern about climate change going forward.

The way urban infrastructure keeps cities hotter, known as the urban heat island effect, is well documented. That persistent heat has led to an increase in 911 calls and deaths during heat events, spurring large cities like Seattle to set up emergency cooling shelters.

Researchers say rural areas and smaller towns have been left out of the conversation because its hard to identify trends from medical data in small populations. But researchers are finding other ways to demonstrate how heat is impacting these populations.

"Rural areas, its true they are still cooler than the urban areas, but the temperature is increasing faster than the urban area, says East Tennessee State University Professor Ying Li. She's one of the researchers looking into how rural communities are struggling with heat. She says preliminary data indicate rural temperatures in Tennessee could be rising up to twice as fast as urban temperatures.

University of Vermont Researcher Elizabeth Doran is documenting the heat island effect in that states small towns. She expects the data will show residents in those communities also struggle with cooling down.

"And we can do something about that once we have that information. We can say, 'Hey, state department, they need a cooling center.' Maybe its just a library or a park and splash pad. But we can identify those needs."

Doran and other researchers hope this growing body of evidence gets communities and local and state governments to take action in rural areas. That is starting to happen in Montana.

Dr. Robert Byron with Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate says Its getting hotter. How can we help folks? One is making them aware.

https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/heatTracker/

Byron has put together materials to help educate public health departments and residents on how to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. He's also created guides for affordable cooling methods like using fans to pull in cool air at night or installing reflective coverings on windows during the day.

Byron and others say when that low-hanging fruit isnt enough, people need a way to cool down.

In a city setting, or an urban setting, its one thing to set up, say, a cooling center with air conditioning ... but if you try to do that same thing in a rural area, its more difficult because people are so dispersed, Byron says.

He says people outside of urban centers may not have close access to health care, so its especially important for local public health officials to create solutions for those residents.

https://health2016.globalchange.gov/temperature-related-death-and-illness

Amy Cilimburg with Climate Smart Missoula says thats made air conditioning more of a necessity in Montana, but not everyone can afford it.

"So what were working on is trying to bring different funding sources to be able to help low-income folks be able to get a heat-pump system for their home.

Electric heat pumps provide both heat and air conditioning. She says that the Inflation Reduction Act will provide much-needed federal funding for this kind of work. But she says for people living in housing they dont own, helping them cope with a hotter future will be harder to do.

Back in Columbia Falls, Alyssa Alsop says her family eventually bought her a window air conditioning unit.

"We put that in yesterday and it feels a lot better in here."

Aarron Bolton: How hot was it getting in here?

"I would say more than probably 100 degrees in here, at least. It was to the point where you couldnt sit in here anymore."

Alsop says with the cool air blowing, her daughter slept through the night without puking for the first time in days.

This visualization shows monthly global temperature anomalies (changes from an average) between the years 1880 and 2021. Whites and blues indicate cooler temperatures, while oranges and reds show warmer temperatures.These temperatures are based on data from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). Anomalies are defined relative to a base period of 1951 to 1980.

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Rural residents may not be ready for increasingly intense heat waves - MTPR

ORLANDO, FL Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor of 11 central Florida heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractors have recovered more than $113,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 169 workers whose employers illegal pay practices denied them their full wages.

The departments Wage and Hour Division investigators identified a wide variety of violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act by the contractors that undercut their employees wages. Some failed to include bonuses and commissions in workers rates of pay when calculating overtime and, as a result, paid overtime at rates lower than those permitted by law for hours over 40 in a workweek.

Investigators found that other contractors failed to combine hours of work when employees performed different jobs for the same employer. For example, an employer paid workers by the hour for work on new construction and on a piece-rate basis for direct service to customers but did not combine the hours worked each week for the purpose of determining and paying overtime due. In another violation of overtime regulations, an employer awarded employees compensatory time off on an hour-for-hour basis for hours over 40 in a workweek, when the law requires these workers be paid a time-and-one-half rate.

In all of the investigations, the division cited employers for failing to keep accurate payroll records.

The 11 investigations included six entities owned by David Cox, Ryan Cox and Richard Allard, and operated as either One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning or Ben Franklin Plumbing. Other entities investigated include Air Source America Inc., owned by Jason M. Buehler and operated as Buehler Air Conditioning; Barineau Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., owned by Patrick Barineau and operated as Barineau Heating & Air Conditioning; Sun Kool Air Conditioning Supply LLC, owned by Frank Nicholson III and operated as Sun Kool Heating and Air; Swamp Heating and Air LLC, owned by Maria V. Radziminski and operated as Gator Heating and Air Conditioning; and Weather Engineering, owned by James Daniel Griffin and operated as A+ Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

Entity

Location

Workers

Total Recovery

Air Source America Inc.

Jacksonville Beach

21

$31,509

Barineau Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

Tallahassee

18

$27,212

ATM 241 LLC

Bradenton

29

$15,114

Sun Kool Air Conditioning Supply LLC

Ocala

44

$12,502

ATM 175 LLC

Daytona Beach

16

$9,399

Swamp Heating and Air LLC

Gainesville

10

$6,546

ATM P362 LLC

South Daytona Beach

13

$5,927

ATM 167 LLC

Atlantic Beach

5

$3,214

ATM 6 LLC

Melbourne

5

$1,241

ATM P214 LLC

Bradenton

5

$442

Weather Engineering

Gainesville

3

$433

Employers who fail to pay their workers all of their rightfully earned wages make it more difficult for employees and their families to make ends meet, said Wage and Hour Division District Director Wildal De Jess in Orlando, Florida. The violations found in these investigations of HVAC companies in central Florida could have been avoided. We encourage employers and employees with questions about compliance with federal wage laws to contact us for more information.

Employment of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 5 percent by 2030, adding more than 38,000 HVAC jobs each year.

Employers who do not respect their workers rights will likely struggle to retain and recruit the people they need to remain competitive, as workers look for opportunities with employers that do, De Jess added.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including asearch toolto use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.

For information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the division, contact the agencys toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the departments Android Timesheet App for free.

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US Department of Labor recovers $113K in back wages, damages for 169 Florida heating, ventilation, air conditioning workers denied overtime - US...

The Detroit area HVAC company will celebrate by treating employees and customers to special events and deals

DETROIT, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --C & C Heating & Air Conditioning, a leading Detroit-area heating and cooling company with more than six decades of experience, will spend August celebrating 74 years of dedicated residential service to the Detroit community with a party for employees and savings for customers.

"When my grandfather started C & C in 1948, his goal was to offer the best heating and cooling service to the community, and we're proud to still offer these services today," said Dayna Hottle, general manager of C & C Heating and Air Conditioning. "We're dedicated to remaining a family-owned and operated heating and cooling business that offers well-paid employment, top-notch services and community aid to the Detroit area and hope to be around for another 74 more years."

Hottle said the company will celebrate by taking employees out on a yacht for a companywide party and will offer its customers a $74 furnace or air conditioning tune-up.

Hottle's grandfather started C & C on Aug. 10, 1948, and the company quickly became a family affair as his children and grandchildren learned the trade, answered phones and addressed mailers. After her grandfather's death in 1977, Hottle's parents and uncle took on the role of running the company, keeping the business in the family for the next generation.

In 2016, Hottle's uncle passed away, but the family rallied to take on the roles he had managed. Hottle also stepped up to new roles over time. She received an economics degree from Albion College and started work as the company's operations manager in 2005. Since January, Hottle has taken on the role of general manager and vows to keep the company family-owned and operated for the foreseeable future.

"We are known for our quality work and exceptional customer service," she said. "We also have the best customers in the world. These are the reasons we have been able to sustain our business for this many years in the increasingly competitive home service business."

C & C Heating & Air Conditioning is a Detroit-area heating and cooling company with more than six decades of expertise installing and servicing all makes and models of heating and cooling equipment. Their technicians are highly trained and qualified and undergo annual background checks, random drug testing, extensive technical and customer service training and are North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified. Services include HVAC maintenance and repair, duct cleaning, whole-home air filtration systems, indoor air quality systems and comprehensive maintenance agreements. For more information, call C & C Heating & Air Conditioning at (586) 439-3319 or visit their website at https://candcheat.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:Heather RipleyRipley PR865-977-1973[emailprotected]

SOURCE C & C Heating & Air Conditioning

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C & C Heating & Air Conditioning celebrates 74 years in the home service industry - PR Newswire

Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning first organized a free A/C unit giveaway for veterans in 2016.

Audrey Monell, the company's president, said they surprised the winners wife at their home while her husband was away for active duty. After that experience, Monellknew it would be an annual event.

Now, Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning is gearing up to host its seventh annual Military Hero A/C giveaway, where they will gift one metro Phoenixveteran, retired servicemember or active-duty servicemember a free air conditioning unit along with a $500 cash gift card.

Beginning Sept. 1, Forrest Anderson will be accepting military hero nominations through its website, according to its news release.

Monell said she started the yearly giveaway in 2016 because she and other members of the company wanted to find a way to give back to the communities they live in.

She chose veterans as she said she felt they are an undervalued population, andin part to honor her grandfather, Forrest Anderson, the family-owned companys founder who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was very proud to serve his country and he even did some of his service on the [U.S.S.] Arizona, Monell said.

The giveaway is very importantto her personally, Monell said. She said she feels that despite political and religious differences that have divided the community, honoring military servicemen and women with the free unit was one thing that everybody is able to come together on and agree it's a good thing.

'Peace of mind': For AZveterans exposed to toxins, health care benefits arehere

Monell recalled her experience doing the first giveaway in 2016.

I really didn't understand the impact that this type of giveaway would have until she answered the door and just started crying, Monell said. They don't always feel appreciated in the community, and this small gesture brought her to tears, she was so grateful. I'll never forget the feeling going to her door.

Monell said after that experience, she knew she wanted the giveaway to be annual. The whole Forrest Anderson team looks forward to the two months a year they run the giveaway, Monell said.

Nominations will be open until Sept. 28, at which point a Forrest Anderson staff panel will select up to five finalists. The nomination form requires a name, contact information and the city and state in which the nominee lives. Additionally, there is space to upload a photo of the nominee and explain how they served in the military.

Then, voting will open to community members from Oct. 14-28 on the companys website and Facebook page, where Forrest Anderson will share the finalists service stories.

The free A/C unit also waives all installation fees and includes a $500 cash gift card, which is donated by Razor Thin Media President Cameron Davis, according to the news release. Forrest Anderson also partners with MORSCO HVAC/Bush Supply, who donates the A/C unit and sheet metal, and Smiley Crane Service, who provide the crane service if necessary to the installation, Monell said.

I feel so lucky that our company is in a position where, financially, we're able to do this, Monell said. We are very fortunate to have those people backing us so we can continue this every year.

Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at sburdette@gannett.com or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam

Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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Forrest Anderson will donate free A/C unit to 'military hero' in metro Phoenix - The Arizona Republic

According to the latest RAC Fuel Watch, drivers will still need to pay 172.88p per litre of unleaded and 183.74p per litre of diesel on average. And, despite both prices slowly dropping, it might still take a while for motorists to see a considerable difference.

With that in mind, drivers across the UK have been reminded how they could get the most out of their air conditioning systems and save money on petrol and diesel.

Tom Hixon, Head of Instructor Support at Bill Plant Driving School, exclusively told Express.co.uk: Air con is a modern-day luxury many motorists have within their cars, and it often helps to make journeys more bearable during the summer months.

As positive as air con can be, it will eat into your fuel consumption which isnt ideal in the current climate.

Luckily for drivers, the expert shared some tips that drivers can follow to reduce their cars fuel consumption.

READ MORE:Drivers warned as secondhand VW sells for 25k more than new model

Mr Hixon said: To begin with, it would be easy to think that its best to put your air con on the highest setting as soon as you get in the car, but this actually makes the temperature hotter, as the air con is taking the existing hot air from inside the car and circulating it.

To prevent this from happening, allow cooler air to enter the car and then gradually increase the air con settings.

A simpler tip is to try and park in the shade where possible, this will then create a cooler temperature in the vehicle and will allow the air con system to work quicker and in turn, reduce the amount of time its working for.

Experts have also previously shared tips on how drivers can remain cool without using air con.

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Motorists can put on a dashboard cover on the cars windshield to keep sunlight away from the cars interior.

The heat won't be as overwhelming if there are no hot vinyl surfaces to touch.

Its obviously not a good idea to open windows all the way but leaving just a small crack will promote ventilation and help to keep the car cool.

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Drivers urged to use air con in the right way to see best results Works quicker - Express

Heatstroke can affect anyone, whether they are exercising outdoors in the heat or not. While exercisers should take particular caution, even sitting in a hot apartment for several days can raise the bodys core temperature to potentially dangerous levels.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion generally appear before heatstroke sets in.

People experiencing heat exhaustion dont exhibit the behavior associated with heatstroke, Morocco said, but they are likely to:

People who are experiencing these symptoms need to get out of the heat and into shade or an air-conditioned space, drink non-alcoholic fluids and rest.

People experiencing heat exhaustion will usually recognize they are overheating, Morocco said. However, those experiencing heatstroke may not, as the condition worsens with continued exposure to heat.

People can be exposed to increasing levels of heat over a heat wave of a couple of days, or even a week, and slowly get worse and worse and worse, he said. It begins with, Its hot; I feel bad. And maybe they have other medical issues or challenges. And then, all of a sudden, they slip into this state where theyre not able to really recognize quite whats going on with them.

To learn more, take UCLAs Heatstroke Quiz

Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day, if possible. If you exercise outdoors, aim for early morning or late evening. When spending a day at the beach or the park, seek out a shady spot. Remind children to rest periodically and drink water.

And when a heat wave hits, look for cool places to be inside. If your home lacks air conditioning, consider heading to a public library or other air-conditioned space. Call your county public health department to ask for the location of cooling centers. Even a few hours in cooler temperatures will help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.

The most important thing for folks to realize is that in hot weather, youve got to check on people who are at risk, Morocco said. That includes the elderly; it includes people who have lots of medical problems; it also includes infants and children.

Seniors have a harder time regulating body temperature and may be taking medications that amplify the risk of heat exposure.

Babies and young children dehydrate more easily and are more vulnerable to high temperatures.

Pregnant women can overheat or become dehydrated more easily. Extreme heat also carries an increased risk of preterm birth.

People with chronic illness may be less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, and their medications can worsen the effects of extreme heat. Air pollution is often worse during heat waves, which can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Overweight and obese individuals tend to retain more body heat and may be more prone to heat-related illnesses.

Outdoor workers are at risk from the lack of shade and increased body temperatures from their exertions. Its vital that they get breaks, have ways to cool down, and remain hydrated.

Unhoused people are exposed to the elements constantly and may not have water, cooling centers or shade to help them lower their body temperatures.

Pay attention to the humidity: Hot temperatures coupled with humidity are particularly dangerous. If its too humid for sweat to easily evaporate, the human body struggles to cool itself down. Take extra care to avoid overheating when its hot and muggy out.

Stay inside, if you can:Seek out air-conditioned environments, if possible. If you dont have air conditioning, check your county public health department for cooling centers, or go to a public library, the movies, or other air-conditioned environment(s).

Beware the electric fan: When temperatures reach the high 90s, electric fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.

Dress for the heat:Wear loose-fitting, light-colored, lightweight clothes.

Listen to your body:If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, stop all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

Wear sunscreen:Sunburn affects your bodys ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.

Drink plenty of fluids:Drink more fluids regardless of how active you are. Dont wait until youre thirsty to drink. And avoid alcoholic drinks or those that are high in sugar.

Replace salt and minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

Never leave children or pets in cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open and when the outside temperatures are relatively mild.

Stay informed: Check the news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.

Top photo credit: iStock/Liudmila Chernetska

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How to stay safe in a heat wave - University of California

After a summer of high temperatures, New Hampshire residents will be sweating out higher electric bills starting next month.

On Aug. 1, Eversource and Liberty Utilities customers saw around a 50% increase in their energy prices, which measures out to an average monthly bill hike of around $70. New Hampshire Electric Co-op customers will be paying around $38 more.

But residents receiving financial assistance could also get a shock on their electric bill. The electric assistance programs currently in place in New Hampshire, the funding of which is administered by the states five community action agencies, doesnt differentiate what a user does with their electricity, state Consumer Advocate Don Kreis said. Regardless of function, the assistance program gives the consumer a break on their electric bill and is funded by the systems benefits charge on each bill sent by utilities.

If youre using your air conditioning, you might well get beyond the threshold of what the state helps to relieve, Kreis said. Running a single window unit for six hours would cost roughly the same as doing two full loads of laundry, and New Hampshire electric bills typically increase around 25% in the summer due to cooling appliances.

The unpleasant effects of those higher prices wont be felt until September, Kreis said. Consumers wont find out until after the fact how hard it was to afford air conditioning during the heat wave.

Bonnie Stebbins has lived in Hannah Village Mobile Home Park in Lebanon since 2005, and she said that shes preparing herself to receive a more costly electric bill next month. To save money, she runs the appliances in her home as little as possible including her AC window units. We do it with a second thought. Do we really want to run this? Is it worth it?

But keeping the air conditioning off leaves her concerned for her health.

Im 70 years old, Stebbins said. And this heat has been really uncomfortable.

New Hampshires Environmental Public Health Track department reported that air conditioning, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, infants, and people with chronic conditions is essential. Hesitations to acquire or turn on air conditioners due to rate hikes can be dangerous. The department found an increase in the excess number of emergency department visits on days that clock in above 75 degrees and warns against relying on fans as a primarily cooling device, recommending instead staying in air conditioning as much as possible.

While cooling assistance programs which provide relief specifically aimed at electricity used for cooling are a mainstay in warm regions across the country, most states in New England typically use assistance funds for their demanding heating seasons. However, as summer temperatures in the region are more closely mirroring those of states with established cooling assistance programs, like New York, cities and towns are responding at the local level. Last summer, Chelsea, Mass., opened up applications for free air conditioners that came with $300 utility relief checks, and an agency in Portsmouth, N.H., regularly gives out air conditioners to vulnerable populations free of charge.

Listen Programs Director Angela Zhang said that the community service provider has fielded more requests for AC units than it ever has before, and its donation-driven energy assistance fund is stretched to a breaking point.

In the past that fund was only used for heating, Zhang said.

She thought of the program as only running November through April, but Zhang said that in the last decade or so, demand has been year-round.

Over time, we need to think about not just supporting the coldest of winter but also the heat waves in the summer, Zhang said. This is something that well have to think about going forward with climate change.

This year, New Hampshire was able to provide a credit toward electric bills of customers who also qualified for fuel assistance in hopes that it could relieve the anticipated summer spike in electric costs. But the credits provided with money leftover from ARPA funds, which expire at the end of September are not a permanent solution.

Hopefully this relief would give people the leeway to buy a fan or an AC, or at least feel less hesitant to run one, state fuel assistance administrator Eileen Smiglowksi said, adding that in a perfect world, one devoid of funding and demand fluctuations, New Hampshire would put its weight behind a more permanent cooling program. But this year, frankly because of the incredible influx that were planning on seeing in the winter, its not a focus for us.

Kevin Hanlon, weatherization consultant for Liberty and Unitil, said that while cooling assistance is certainly on the radar of the providers, nothing is set in stone yet. New Hampshire is generally considered a heating state, and the subject of cooling and its contribution to someones electric bill has never been a big issue around here, Hanlon said. But the strength of the recent hot spell tied in with the increase in electric rates, and its certainly on the plates of electricity providers.

Like Smiglowski on the state side, Hanlon hopes that providers can pull together their own cooling assistance programs by next summer.

Across the board from the state to utility providers to community action agencies those working in energy assistance recommend weatherization as the first step a homeowner should take toward saving money on utility bills. Installing attic and wall insulation, in addition to other lower-cost weatherization efforts like replacing filters on furnaces, can keep a house both cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter while also reducing energy costs.

Cooling is weatherization, New Hampshire Weatherization Assistance Program Manager Kirk Stone said. Waitlists are currently long for government-funded weatherization programs, which are administered by community action agencies. But Stone urged residents to put their names down anyway. In the meantime, he tells residents to weatherize as much as they can on their own, especially as New Hampshire moves from an expensive cooling season into an expensive heating season.

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Summer temperatures put heat on NH to develop cooling assistance programs - Concord Monitor

By NEIL SPERRY

DEAR NEIL: I took this photo last fall at a garden in South Texas. Id like to grow this plant. What can you tell me about it? Will I have any trouble finding it?

Dear Reader: Thats fall aster. Its an heirloom Texas perennial that our grandmamas grew. For many years you only saw it in older neighborhoods, but over the past 30 or 35 years its made its way back into the mainstream retail nursery trade.

It blooms for several weeks, generally in late September and into October. Its often showcased in retail garden centers with their pumpkin displays to take advantage of the contrast of colors. Ask ahead. If they dont plan on having it, they can order it in for you, generally in 1-gallon pots.

The plants grow to be 24 inches tall and wide. Their leaves are tiny and virtually unnoticeable until the plants pop into bloom. Bees and butterflies love it, so it brings excitement to its surroundings.

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Once it finishes blooming you can prune the old flowering stems back close to the ground. Its also a good idea to pinch-prune the plants to remove an inch or so of the growing tips in late spring or early summer to keep the plants more compact.

DEAR NEIL: Im starting to worry about my oak trees during this drought. Weve already had to lower the pump in our well, so we are trying to conserve water. What is the best way to keep them alive?

Dear Reader: Unfortunately, when they need water, nothing short of water will do.

Without seeing your trees I cant really advise you, but much will depend on factors like the species of oaks involved, age of the trees, whether theyre established native oaks or newly planted within the past five or ten years, their vigor coming out of the record cold 18 months ago, depth of soil and so on.

Luckily, were toward the end of the hottest part of the year, so the demand for water should begin to lessen. If you could lay a soaker hose around their drip lines and run it slowly for several hours that would really help, but I do understand the angst of concern over running the well dry. I would not recommend fertilizing them this fall.

DEAR NEIL: I had St. Augustine replaced the last week of April. I have watered faithfully almost every day since, but the grass is very patchy. Only three small areas from a separate batch look good.

I may have a struggle getting restitution from my landscaper. How would I find a consultant to advise me?

Dear Reader: You mentioned that this new St. Augustine was being used to replace prior turf. What happened to it? Before I blame the new grass, Id like to examine if there could be a problem with the setting.

This is the most common problem I have encountered in more than 50 years of doing gardening talk shows, writing gardening columns and doing work for the Extension Service.

St. Augustine is our most shade-tolerant lawn grass. But its tough to get new sod established if there is a great deal of shade. Thats not the landscapers fault.

Watering almost daily is, once the new grass is rooted (a couple of weeks) too frequent and not good for the grass.

Id want to look for signs of gray leaf spot. If you have fertilized the new grass during the summer, that fungus would have been promoted and it would have left the turf looking patchy.

So, there are many factors outside the control of the landscaper that might have contributed to the poor outcome of the new grass. As for a turf grass consultant, you might ask at several sod vendors and at companies that sell professional turf grass supplies to golf courses and athletic fields. They usually know people who are well versed in turf.

The Texas AgriLife Extension turf specialists are good, although dont look to them to take one side or the other. They will identify what problems they see and give their best opinions as to how you can move past them.

DEAR NEIL: Is there a way to transplant runners of English ivy from a neighbors bed into a new bed Im trying to start?

Dear Reader: Perhaps so, but Ive always had great results taking the runners and cutting them into pieces with one leaf per cutting, its petiole (the stem of the leaf) and a 1- or 2-inch piece of the true stem of the ivy, then planting three or four of those cuttings per 4-inch plastic pot filled with loose, highly organic potting soil.

I keep them moist and humid (beneath a loosely draped sheet of plastic this time of year) and in the shade until they develop roots and start sending out new stems.

This works much better and faster than the couple of times I tried digging up footlong stems and trying to transplant them.

Have a question youd like Neil to consider? Email him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com. Neil regrets that he cannot reply to questions individually.

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Neil Sperry: Fall aster can be great addition to garden - Waco Tribune-Herald