Beat the summer heat

With temperatures expected to hit the 90s today and tomorrow and stay in the 70s and 80s through Monday, Seattle's long-awaited summer weather has arrived.

Now that the heat is here, the question on most everyone's mind is how to beat it.

Sustainable Ballard has a number of ideas on how to keep cool while also keeping green.

• Close windows and blinds during the heat of the day.
• Unplug unnecessary appliances and electronic equipment – coffee machines, microwaves, printers, etc.
• Reduce lighting to minimal levels.
• Investigate personal and space cooling with small room fans and ice packs.
• Set your printers to power saver mode when they are not in use.
• Set your computer screens to power saver mode when they are not in use.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights.
• Consume fresh, cold meals or cook during cooler hours.

For residents that don't want to escape the sun by hiding inside with an array of fans, ice packs and popsicles, Seattle Parks and Recreation offers its outdoor pools, water features and beaches.

Parks offers beaches supervised by lifeguards from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Ballard's closest supervised beaches are West Green Lake, located at 7312 W. Green Lake Dr., which is open trough Sept. 6, and East Green Lake, located at 7201 E. Green Lake Dr. N., which is open through Aug. 29.

Ballard residents looking for the nearest Parks-operated outdoor pool should head to Magnolia's Lowery C. "Pop" Mounger Pool, located at 2535 32nd Ave. W. The pool is open daily through Sept. 12.

Parks also offers a variety of wading pools and water features for younger children throughout Ballard and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Soundview Wading Pool, located at 1590 N.W. 90th St., is open from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday through Monday until Aug. 22.

Green Lake Wading Pool, located at North 73rd Street and East Green Lake Drive North, is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Sept. 6.

The Ballard Commons Water Feature, located at 5701 22nd Ave. N.W. is a huge draw anytime the sun comes out. It is operational from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Oct. 15.

The current heat wave may be the first of the summer, but it certainly won't be the last, so keep these heat-beating tips in mind.