Australia Weather News

As Queenslanders swelter through another heatwave, so too does the temptation to crank up the air conditioning.

But with the state and federal governments' energy rebates at an end — and the cost of living continuing to rise — Queenslanders are looking for alternatives to an expensive, artificial polar vortex inside their home.

Long-term Cairns friends Annie Dobinson and Christine Bosire swapped their usual Zumba class for aqua aerobics to escape the heat.

"It's so hot today, so we said we're going to try it," Ms Bosire said.

"There was a severe heatwave warning, so we thought we would come in and cool down and it was great."

Gill Brittliff has been running the free program for 13 years and changed his schedule to accommodate the weather.

"There used to be a big break during Christmas time, however, we talked to the council and said, 'Hey, this is the best time for us to be doing this class,'" Mr Britliff said.

"Participation rate is great. We easily get over 150 to 200 people in the class, easy."

When he is not instructing, Mr Britliff uses a whole range of budget-friendly ways to stay cool in the hot and sweaty far north.

"My tip is garden hose because I don't have a pool," he said.

"I have a dog and whenever the power goes out in the middle of the day, I sit around with my dog and we just put some music on and play with the garden hose and stay cool that way.

"We freeze towels as well … so when it gets really hot, we can pat ourselves down, pat the dog down as well."

Councils across Queensland put on a myriad of free activities during the summer period, with places like art galleries and libraries attracting big numbers.

"We find that more people come in to seek the comfort of the free air-conditioning, Cairns council spokesperson said.

"And they also use our other resources such as magazines, newspapers, wi-fi which are also all free."

Gyms also often see numbers increase as patrons escape the sun.

But Rockhampton gym owner Sean O'Neill urged gym-goers to tweak their workouts to avoid overheating.

"For our overall programming we take the summer we're about to have into consideration but also on a day-to-day basis we may need to individualise it or modify it," he said.

"We try and find ways to keep the intensity without having to do things that really increase core body temperature."

But people used to the heat could become complacent, according to the director of Tropical Public Health Services in Cairns Jacqueline Murdoch.

"But the message is that extreme heatwaves can affect everybody," Dr Murdoch said.

"It is really important that you stay hydrated, that you stay inside during those hotter parts of the day and that you check in on people that might be at higher risk."

Run club organisers Danielle Cappello and Chloe Dart opt to stay outside for their weekly event in Cairns but are proactive in keeping participation numbers up.

"We decided to do it at a cooler period of the day …  we also recommend everyone stays hydrated during the day and we always wear hats," Ms Cappello said.

Physical changes can help people stay cool for longer

Brisbane hairdresser Kristie Gill said something as simple as a haircut could help keep people cool.

"When it is going into the warmer months, [clients] either take more length off than usual or radically change their hair and chop it all off," Ms Gill said.

For farmer Brigid Price, who has lived through decades of summers in central Queensland, clothing is an important consideration — especially for those working outdoors.

"We try and get all our work shirts in winter so they're worn down in summer," she said.

On her farms at Injune and Rockhampton the daily routine changes in summer to reduce the amount of time out in the heat.

"We're getting up earlier and planning what jobs can be done in the shade," she said.

"We're also really mindful of the livestock and our working dogs, and we'll use helicopters for mustering to be more efficient for the livestock."

Looking out for Man's Best Friend

If you're feeling the heat, your pet is too.

The RSPCA urges owners to avoid walking pets in the hottest part of the day, provide access to plenty of shade and water, keep them indoors if possible and never leave them in a car alone.

At Cairns Animal Rescues, volunteer Jodi Hargreaves uses splash pool to keep her pups cool.

She also makes her own doggy ice cream but warns owners to never feed dogs frozen bones as they can splinter and cause harm, just like cooked bones.

Maximising air con usage

Where air conditioning is an option, the Energy Efficiency Council said simple tips could reduce bills and environmental impact.

"Keeping your air con filters maintained but checking it a few times a year to make sure that the build-up of dust inside the filter is cleaned out because that will affect the efficiency of the unit," head of policy Jeremy Sung said.

Shutting windows and doors to the area being cooled, as well as increasing the temperature on the air conditioner could also help you save.

"It only needs to be low relative to the outdoor temperature, so if we're seeing temperatures up into the 30s, you can be quite comfortable around 25 degrees indoors," he said.

"You could potentially be using 5 to 10 per cent less energy per degree."

The Energy Efficiency Council also recommends pre-cooling your home outside peak hours, using a fan and planting trees that provide shade outside your windows.