A heatwave in Australia: The Reengineer Monitor #58
'Resilience hubs', solar-powered car - and more!
Heating and cooling
A record-breaking heatwave hit south-eastern Australia this week. Local media have dished out advice on how people can try to keep cool at home. “Pull down door shades, close blinds, and, in the absence of window coverings, put up sheets or blankets to block the sun,” suggested The Fifth Estate, for one.
I’d like to note the impact of the heatwave on sporting events in Australia. It has affected the Tour Down Under cycling race, for example, with one stage shortened and scheduled to begin an hour earlier than previously planned. Plus, the Australian Open tennis tournament has relied on air conditioning, arena roofs to provide shade and sprayed water mists to try and keep both players and spectators cool. But, as this series of photographs shows, it has still been a pretty brutal experience for many.
