12 Ways to Cool Your Home Without Air Conditioning

SPACIFY INC, What a great home. Beautiful job!

olldbobbi I like the shade tree idea, but not the climbing ivy one. Spiders love ivy, I don't love spiders! It is so hot where we live we have triple pane windows. I also think attic fans are a great idea, they just push the hot air outside where it belongs.

kuva Heres a Few from an Australian: Eat salad, bbq or Vietnamese cold rolls... Install screens on doors & windows so you can open without bug invasions, use evaporative cooling because it's much cheaper than refrigerative, get some portable fans, put a wet towel on you if it gets crazy hot, go hang out somewhere with aircon eg mall, cinema or just go to the beach!

tigerprincess13 I would like to add install attic fan. This will increase air flow and reduce air condition cost.

edgedale A whole house fan was installed in this 1962 ranch, we put it on early morning hours, it will cool the house down to 74*. With the AC set at 78*, sometimes it doesn't go on until late afternoon. This is Charlotte, NC with daytime highs of 95*. And the lined roman shades I made makes a big difference too, keeping the east windows shaded. (great internet resources for instruction)

Besides ivy look at Virginia Creeper - it's deciduous and get's a lovely colour in the fall.

maisner Brick masons hate ivy, it destroys mortar. It's very pretty but check with your local experts first. If you live in an area prone to insects (Florida, Texas, etc.), it provides a haven for them. Ok, I'll confess....I'm specifically talking about roaches here, Palmetto bugs and so-called "water bugs". *shudder*

kbradfield Ideas on decorating guest house for rental

Sharon Ivy climbing the walls brings bugs but also breakdowns mortar or can grow under siding, You have to have screens on your widows to keep out bugs especially at nights where the smallest light will draw bugs. Don't forget wildlife (human and animals). I live in SC where heat and humidity are pretty bad in the summer. I try not to use the oven when cooking. A crockpot is the best way to cook without heating the house up. Up your insulation. Well placed shade trees is the best solution in this list but it takes time to grow. I have a "fish bowl" window in my kitchen, floor to ceiling and it gets full sun through the morning. We put a crepe myrtle in front of it and it umbrellas out. We keep it cut to the right height so that every summer we have our own umbrella over that window. If you are building a house, try to position it the right way according to the sun. You don't want straight sun coming in large windows. Covered porches are a must down here, especially screened porches. A patio or deck is almost wasted money down here because it's too hot to use. The pavement heats up and no coverage from the sun.

Deborah Furman I don't have an air conditioning system in my home, so after reading the above information I went to Lowe's and bought several ceiling fans and open my windows at night and now my home is much cooler. thank u soooooooooo much

Lanie Brown Some great tips which I will re-post; thanks. I agree that climbing ivy is charming but destructive. Check with your HOA before painting a roof white.

prospera The other thing to consider is an attic fan, especially if you live in an area where the temp goes down significantly at night. When it drops, open all of the windows and turn on the fan. You will be amazed at how quickly the house cools down! Minimal cost and extremely efficient.

greenarte Another issue with using ivy is that several types are on or will be on the invasive weed lists in states where they grow well. They absolutely blanket forest floors and climb/kill trees. A green 'scorched earth' for native plants and animals, like Kudzu.

Nan I applied a costly tinted window film as an experiment on a dbl paned E rated window on the south side of my home. It became so hot within minutes that I removed the film. My window MFG said I would void my window warranty if I used the film as they had received complaints of windows cracking with the film in place.

Tabitha Dyson i live i texas and today its 102 ! i was told ceiling fans really dont belong in a modern/comtemp livingroom but i have been hesitant in taking it down because of the high ceilings its very hard to keep the room cool. any suggestions on a ceiling fan that would be cool looking enough to put in my livingroom?

tigerprincess13 Form always should follow function! If you are looking for a really great ceiling fan and your room can handle it. Try bigassfans.com. They also have very contemporary style fans. They haven6 speeds and are quite.

midmodfan There was a great ideabook on good looking modern ceiling fans recently. Search 'ceiling fans' in ideabooks and check it out.

prospera Absolutely tigerprincess! I live in TX as well and right now it's 106 and rising. My air can stay at a MUCH higher setting, just with those ceiling fans. At times the air can even stay off. Form does follow function and that's prime example. No way I'd take down a single fan. Google modern fans and there are plenty.

tigerprincess, I didn't mean to duplicate you on the attic fan. I just failed to refresh. Keep up the great ideas!

Liquidscapes The ivy you see on this home is called "Boston Ivy", which turns a beautiful crimson red in the fall before it loses it's leaves. This way the home, in this case stucco exterior, can receive air and sunlight during the harshes season of winter.

So in the summer it helps insulate and beautify the home, which was a sea of gray stucco, very stark. During the winter months, which are typically cold, wet and damp, it can breath and stay dry.

This can be very aggressive, so you need to be diligent with your maintenance.

After this house went through a major renovation and addition, the goal was to make old (100 years) and new appear seamless. Most of what you see in the image is an addition 5 years young, but it doesn't appear that way, mission accomplished!

prospera I believe what the readers are referring to is English Ivy. We had it in California as a ground over that the builders planted as a quick fix. It was extremely aggressive and we had to constantly fight it from attaching to the house. It stained the stucco and ate the paint. Now in TX we have Boston Ivy on our back fence. It is a much softer plant and easier to maintain. As the above poster suggests, it turns a beautiful shade in the fall and then dies back. Here is an example that I found:
http://gardendrama.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/boston-ivy-puts-on-a-show/

It's a totally different animal. And yes, I panicked when the landscaper mentioned ivy.

Liquidscapes I just wanted the readers to realize the difference. The image used was a project our company did, so I thought it was important to clarify what variety, approach and purpose was considered in the planning process.

roxenka Having a green wall is good, but ivy is NOT the way to go. It will destroy brick as the rootlets grow in to hold it up. I used Carolina Jasmine on my southeast wall - it required trellis-work to climb on, but will not damage anything.

Harrison Staab Great tips. Amazing how simple it can really be to be energy efficient. Don't forget that you can also use water features near your home to allow air to cool as it enters your house.

woolylam We pretty much cook everything on the grill in the summer. Even using a cast iron skillet to fry eggs. Pizza on the grill is yummy too. No sense in heating your house and then trying to cool it again. Also, my 100+ year old house has great cross ventilation and shades keep the brutal sun out.

Rachel Greathouse I love it great article:))

Boutique-de-la-Mer.com Some great ideas and beautiful photos!

lynettewood Good ideas. Let me add a couple more. I like my home cool. I am a designer in FL so these ideas work. Get a counter top oven for your kitchen. Buy one that has a rounded back so you can bake a pizza. Lowes has them (approx. $120) and your kitchen won't heat up in the summer. Use not only overhead fans (good looking ones) but also quality fans like Vornado. Put a circulating fan near where you sit. A small hall way ceiling fan can work wonders. Check that your air cond. system is fairly new and energy efficient. Then make sure your living room looks cool. Add soft blues and greens in pillows, throws and accent pieces. Have fun and stay cool.

olldbobbi lynettewood - can I please ask you a question about the countertop oven? I've been thinking about getting one - I'm guessing they don't heat up the kitchen as much as a wall oven? I live in the San Joaquin valley in NorCal and it's supposed to hit 115 here by the end of the week. I can't stand it and the air conditioner can only do so much. Thanks in advance!

cicuta The tips are OK; however, you forgot the most important one...Install a Cooler! Coolers come in different sizes and ways to install taking about 20 minutes to install one through a window, on the roof which I don't like for obvious reasons, or the commercial type which blows cool air through a duct. The house can be kept cool even in hot summer days and the electric bill comes to about $60.00, give or take, depending if you’re in the house all day long; however, if you work all day and are in the house in the evenings and weekends only it could be less. Give it a try and you will be amazed how great it is and the money you save as compared with AC.

catsandroses my kitchen has a big ( about 10' x 3') window with casements on the ends, fixed in the middle. we added central air about 6 years ago but that window really pulls in the morning summer sun (though it's fabulous the rest of the year).. we opted for a "museum shade" type shade from a local blind/window shade company.. it wasn't cheap but it is AMAZING at how much cooler the kitchen stays if I put that down while the coffee is brewing.. we opted for the black which I was leery about but it looks fine and you can see thru it as well.. Also, as others have noted.. whole house fans make a huge difference unless the outside air is warm and humid

tigerprincess13 I am not sure what you mean by a cooler. I would like more information it sounds good.

cicuta Hi catsandroses,
.You must have one thing in mind when it comes to colors: Dark colors are heat sinking colors and light colors are heat reflectors. So, the shade you talk about should be white to reflect the sun's heat. Also, I see in the pictures you provide, which are fantastic, that you use light bulbs which give off lots of heat, instead use neon light bulbs which give cool light besides saving in electricity; so you have an idea, a 13 Watt neon light bulb is equivalent to a 60 Watt regular light bulb. Fans are ok but if the air is warm it distributes warm air throughout the house. Also, the windows should be energy efficient meaning that they should deflect the sun light instead of absorbing it as glass is a porous liquid...the heat from the sun heats up the interior of the house through the glass of the windows. Now, if you install a Cooler, you have all windows closed and one window, or sliding door, should be slightly open so the cool air from the Cooler forces the warm air out of the house. Your house can be kept at about 60-65 degrees F depending on the size of the Cooler. There are lots of things people can do in order to have an energy efficient house but the architects and contractors just don't think and are ignorant in that respect. A house can be 100% energy efficient and self-contained also regardless of the season of the year.

Regards, Cicuta

cicuta Hi tigerprincess13,

I sent you a review but I don't see it posted. Did you read it? if not I can send it again. In my comment, I explains what a Cooler is and how it works but at the end I mentioned that you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's or any hardware store to see it first hand. It is great.

Cicuta

catsandroses we chose the black shade as that's what the store suggested for that window.. maybe light was better but it does really keep the kitchen cooler. I have to investigate a cooler, have never heard of them!

cicuta Hi tigerprinces13,
A Cooler is a metallic container with removable perforated panels on the sides with filers (straw or foam). Inside the container there is a water pump, an electric motor with a fan driven by a belt. Water from a water source is stored at the bottom of the container; the water is maintained at a certain level with a floater. The water pump circulates the cold water from top to bottom wetting the filters and the fan moves air from the outside ambient, through the Cooler and into the house. It is a simple principle which works great. They are sold by Home Depot, Lowe’s or any other hardware store.

lynettewood The counter top oven that I mentioned doesn't heat up the kitchen at all. You can bake a roast in it, or anything that will fit in a small oven, chicken etc. And I like it at counter level, easier to see into. Just make sure you get one that has the rounded back for your pizzas!

cicuta catsandroses,

Black color is a heat sink meaning it absorbs heat, in winter time is OK as it helps warm up the ambient of the kitchen but in summer it makes it warmer. A white shade works a lot better. Seems to me the store people do not know anything about colors. Remember: Cool colors are always light colors and warm colors are dark colors being black the hottest of all...simple Physics.

Do the following experiment: In summer time with temperatures in the 90s dress up all black and soon enough you will be sweating like a horse; then switch to a white dress and you will see the difference.

Nan Cicuta,

RE: the coolers. Are these coolers noisy? I have concrete floors and very tall ceilings and an open floor plan, so I try not to add any more noise! These coolers are interesting as with straw bale I have no options for an AC installation. I only experience 15-25 days at the most of really hot/humid weather so AC wouldn't pay off anyway. Besides, I'm not an AC lover and prefer efficient ceiling fans.

olldbobbi lynettewood - thank you so much!

tigerprincess13 Thank you, Circula, I am goingmonmthe hunt for one. I am thankful to learn new things.

cicuta nanjean,
.As always is the case, you have to weight your options, likes and dislikes; however, I like to be in a cool environment. I lived for 6 years in Orlando, FL; so, I know what heat and humidity is...every home has those fans and AC as well; so, the electricity bill is hansom. Coolers have two speeds and noisy if you use the high speed; so, the things to do is run high speed for a while with the pump ON and then go to the low speed which is not that noisy, in fact, you can watch TV even if the cooler is nearby. Also, you have to select where to install the Cooler so the noise is not bothersome...but get this...you're as cool as a cucumber and your electric bill is not that much. Always weight your options, likes and dislikes before doing anything.

cicuta Bobbi,

I also live in NorCA; however, I live in Placerville which is kind of cool even when temperatures in San Joaquin valley hit the 120 degrees. Regarding your question about the oven; keep in mind that countertop ovens are small and cannot do the things a big oven does. Also, countertop ovens take up space and if your kitchen is small you will need the space probably. Microwave ovens on the other hand have also Convection capabilities as well as microwave. The best thing to do is to have a stove with the oven in it and then a small microwave/convection oven for trivial things.

Nan Thank you Cicuta! Sounds like I need to get one and be prepared for next summer! The MBR would be a perfect place for this.

Nan I got my kids a toaster/oven with the extra bump out for pizza last Christmas. They have hardly any counter space but made the choice to clear off things not used on a daily basis to keep this accessible. They use it almost daily and absolutely appreciated having it, not only for energy savings, but because it does so much to make their hectic lives easier. They especially love the broiling option they can't get with their microwave. Best gift under 70.00.

lynettewood Just to clarify I was not suggesting a toaster/oven but a small counter top oven that you can bake a roast or a chicken in. They cost approx. $120 but you will save on heat and fall in love with it. It heats up quickly but your kitchen does not!

lynettewood Something very inexpensive to cool down the look of your living room is to take 2 large flat white sheets and cover your sofa and favorite chair. Bring in a couple of pretty green plants (I like asparagus greens) in planters from the yard. Then add a few sea shells. If you have a blue scarf or bowl put it out. And instantly you have a cool summer cabin look that didn't cost you a dime.

blt65 I do hope that water coolers have been greatly improved in the last 40 years. We had 1 in a rental home in Lawton, OK about 40 years ago and it didn't do a darn thing to cool the house. The landlord finally gave in and bought 1 window ac unit - now if ac could only go around corners. We ended up moving our mattress to the dining room so we could sleep through the awful heat.
Thanks for the topic and suggestions. I have 3 ceiling fans in my townhouse - love the one in my bedroom. I'm thinking of looking into installing an attic fan. I just moved in to this townhouse a year ago and have already put in all new windows throughout at the cost of over $10,000 which was better than the first estimate of $25,000!!! I was also thinking about putting a retractable awning on the back over the cement slab which serves as a "patio." The sun hits that side of the townhouse in the morning. Has anyone tried that to help reduce the heat during the summer?

krismort Another word about coolers. I assume everyone's talking about evaporative coolers, aka swamp coolers, which use water to cool the air, thus adding humidity to the indoor air. This is usually a good choice in a dry climate but kind of cancels out the work of your dehumidifier if you're in a humid climate. We had one in a desert climate and chose to add whole house AC for the more humid monsoon season. When our kids asthma improved after stopping the use of the evaporative cooler we ended up taking it out and closing up the hole in the roof and ceiling. (And yes, we did clean or change the filters on the cooler regularly.) I do wish we could take advantage of the cooler nights here but open windows let in pollen as well as cooler air. Not good for my allergic, asthmatic family. We do what we can with triple pane windows, blinds, fans, outdoor cooking, etc. I'll have to consider the attic fan others have suggested.

jenmilwaukee Whole house fans and adequate attic insulation and venting can be a more green alternative. Open windows in the cooler hours and run fan to exhaust hotter attic air and to set up a natural convection of cooler air in, hotter air out.

stephanie1114 That house is like my dream come true!

Daula Adilad in tropical country were i live..what kind of tree should plant beside my home..i just cut off all of them because it grows bigger and bigger...