The climate crisis has proven time and time again how quickly our environment can change. From record freezing temperatures across Central and Eastern Asia to extreme power outages during cold weather, the winter season is expected to continue testing our levels of preparedness.
During a weather emergency, the likelihood of your power going out increases, leaving you vulnerable to freezing cold temperatures. In this scenario, it pays to be prepared, and we’re going to show you how.
By taking advantage of the everyday items you likely have at home, you can construct an emergency radiator to keep yourself warm during extreme weather conditions. Check out our video below to get started, and find a quick tutorial for removing extra moisture from the air with a DIY dehumidifier.
How to Make an Emergency Radiator
Materials
- Metal baking sheet
- Muffin tin
- Aluminum foil
- Clay flower pot
- Candle, or supplies to make your own candle (Glass jar, olive oil, a piece of yarn or shoelace, matches, and scissors)
Step 1: To make a candle for your emergency radiator, fill a small glass jar with olive oil. Make sure to leave a little space at the top of the jar.
Step 2: Fold a piece of aluminum foil in half and puncture a small hole through the middle. You’ll want the hole to be large enough to fit the shoelace or piece of yarn.
Step 3: Dip the tip of your yarn or shoelace into the olive oil, then weave it through the hole in the aluminum foil. Place the foil over the top of the glass jar to complete your homemade candle.
Step 4: To start building your emergency radiator, place your muffin tin on top of the metal baking sheet. Then, put your DIY candle into one of the muffin tin spaces before lighting the wick.
Step 5: Place the clay flower pot over the candle, making sure the sides of the flower pot overlap the nearby muffin tin spaces to allow oxygen to reach the flame. If the clay flower pot has a hole at the bottom, cover the hole with a piece of aluminum foil to trap more heat with your emergency radiator.
How to Make a Dehumidifier
Step 1: Fill a small container with baking soda.
And that’s it! Baking soda is hygroscopic, which means it easily absorbs moisture. Since you don’t want to use too much baking soda to remove moisture from the air, this DIY trick works best in small spaces or rooms.