Forget AC! Cool Your Home Naturally

(Page 7 of 7)

August/September 2007
By Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner 
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More Advanced Steps: Things You Can Do Tomorrow

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When you’re ready to take on more substantial projects, consider the following:

  • Add new openings in your home’s walls for natural ventilation.
  • Create a thermal chimney.
  • Landscape to redirect the wind.
  • Create outdoor rooms; depending on where it’s located and how it’s designed, an outdoor room can be an island of calm when it’s too breezy, or it can put you in the path of cooling breezes when it’s hot.

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Comments

  • Pat Miketinac 6/26/2009 8:41:44 PM

    Brad, what you are referring to is commonly called a "cool tube". For details, type "My Mother's House" in the search box at the top of this page. I visited that house and saw them work. I did not use them for my earth shelter because the ground temp. here in FL is 72 degrees and the house stays near that temp.

  • Lorraine Davidoff 7/25/2008 9:23:12 AM

    I recently discovered a "modern" cooling technique. Sleeping on an air mattress with only a cotton sheet over it is cooling, the air underneath you pulls body heat away and you lose the hot spot your skin makes against a regular mattress. I live in HOT Texas, and I have been sleeping on an air mattress the past few 100+ days. I turned my a/c up another 4 degrees, turned the ceiling fan off, and slept in cool comfort. The mattresses are under $50, some under $20. A second use for my camping equipment. I've decided to remove my bed mattress for the summer and glue velcro tabs to secure the air mattress to my box springs.

  • Joe Burge 7/25/2008 8:30:42 AM

    In response to Brad's question, modern architects are "re-discovering" what the Romans knew 2000 years ago, that passive geothermal cooling was easy.
    http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/designingbuildings/sustainability/greenbuildings/2007/12/corporate_green.html

  • Joe Burge 7/25/2008 8:19:05 AM

    One of the best resources is to simply look at older buildings before AC. I live in a 1900 era house, and the high ceilings, and heavy construction all make for better use of passive heating and cooling. Transoms, ceiling fans, lots of chimneys, huge porches all show how people got by before modern HVAC.

  • brad 12/5/2007 3:19:53 PM

    hi is there any articles or how to on using underground duct to
    increase thetemp temp of air being brought into a house for cooling
    or heating ? thanks brad

  • Aditya 8/11/2007 8:30:24 AM

    I was so happy to see your article on passive cooling - but sad to
    see that it contained broad points that almost every one else talks
    about. If we are serious about passive cooling, let's have articles
    with drawings and diagrams. Tell a bit, but show us more. Seeing is
    believing, and believing leads to action. Thanks again - and please
    go the extra mile? I will thank you; the planet will thank you.

  • Johnny 8/10/2007 8:54:54 PM

    Is there a way to build solar panels from scatch? To build panels
    seperatly for each project, heating,cooling, lights.

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