How Did Our Grandparents Live Without Air Conditioning

How did our grandparents live without it?

They did it in several ingenious ways:

Have you noticed many older homes aren't on slabs but instead are built off the ground?  That's so air could flow underneath the house, helping to keep it cool.

Again, notice all the cool, tall ceilings in old houses?  That isn't just for dramatic affect.  It's also so the warm air would collect up high.

The fans predated air conditioning and were introduced with the availability of electricity.

You don't see these much anymore.  But this was a small window above the door that could be opened to allow air to flow through the house but still allow for privacy and security.

Old homes seem more likely to have those big, wraparound porches that are so nice to sit on a warm Texas evening!  These allowed light to come in the house but not get the direct, hot sun.  People also would sleep outside in these screened in porches for the cool nights without getting bitten by bugs.

That cat was on a hot tin roof because tin and other light-colored metals would reflect sunlight, helping to keep the house cool.  Now we have dark shingles that absorb sunlight.  Why is that?

Europe still builds their houses this way.  This was especially common in the southern United States.  12-24 inch walls that would block the heat during the day and retain the warmth at night.