Prepping for no AC/heat
Posted by DesertRose171@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 161 comments
I live in the south where it gets up to 100-105 for several months. For a long power grid outage situation, how would you prep and then acclimate for that without AC/electricity?
Same question for the cold..granted it usually stays above late 20s or 30s in the winter here.
One-Calligrapher1815@reddit
I only have to prep for no A/C which is good since worst case I just need to keep everyone hydrated and then don’t move a lot.
I prep plenty of water and then a variety of fans.
I have battery operated varying from AAA, AA, and D’s.
I also have plenty USB run fans.
My latest additions were one that you can pack with ice or cold water which makes it blow colder air.
I also picked up a “neck fan” but i’m not sure how effective it is.
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Can you share your links for those USB run fans?
One-Calligrapher1815@reddit
Tevelecin Small Desk Fan, 2000mAh... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ39M38W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
One-Calligrapher1815@reddit
SWEETFULL Portable Neck Fan 360°... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNZ39XKJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
One-Calligrapher1815@reddit
The others I think my wife got off tik tok.
Amazon has the best prices on these 100%
Still-Persimmon-2652@reddit
My family visited historic Williamsburg VA and was shown and told about (on a guided tour) an enclosed outdoor gazebo like structure where the wealthier citizens would douse their bodies and submerge limbs in buckets of cold well water during the hottest part of the day. It sounded like a very practical and useful history cool down hack.
No_Design5860@reddit
I found what really gets you is being hot all night. Try the "Egyptian" sleeping method. A cooling blanket, or high count thin sheet. Take it and soak it in water, then wring it out so its not dripping but wet. Put this on your naked body with either a fan or an open window (historically Egyptians would sleep on the roof open to the night air with these). The wet sheet will cool you very well.
mlotto7@reddit
You would just need to get used to being uncomfortable. According to History.com here are ways our older generations dealt with heat and humidity.
I know that isn't very helpful. I live in Midwest and have a basement. Even in heat waves, it's pleasant. We own a private lake and also a salt water pool so we could swim or use the water to mist. It's amazing how cool one can get when they use a spray bottle and mist their body. I would also hydrate well.
I'm not trying to be rude, but with half the US population obese, it would help to lose weight and be in shape. I've noticed after a workout and a good sweat - it can be unseasonably warm and I still stay cool after a good workout. I don't think our sedentary lives do us any favors with body temp regulation.
w0lfwoman@reddit
Growing up in a hot area before everyone had AC, swamp coolers were used. They helped and I had I house with one. Going back before that, it was common to hang wet cloths in front of the window to act in a similar manner.
Open up the building in the cool of the night, early morning and then close up the curtains during the day. Change your schedule. Work early in the morning and stop by noon. Socialize late in the evening after the sun goes down. Nap midday. Drink lots of water. Every time you take a break, drink water. Stay away from sweet sodas. Eat a banana. Get potassium and magnesium. That’s it off the top of my head.
nigel29@reddit
Swamp coolers don't work in the south. It's too humid
chi_lawyer@reddit
Fans can be counterproductive over 95 degrees or so, though.
tempest1523@reddit
According to History people just died from heat as well. People with health problems and old many times just die. Yes humanity survives but this type response always gets to me. People living in a post A/C, post refrigerator society forget we have shifted our society to live in areas and ways people just didn’t live back then. And you just don’t get used to 100+ temps.
mlotto7@reddit
It depends and there are a lot of variables. 95 degrees with high humidity on the East Coast is unbearable compared to 105 degree in Phoenix. I used to go to a park and play basketball 5 days a week in Phoenix no matter the temp and it was fine.
There was a study summarized by Washington Post and NYTs that said we are highly adaptable with efficient cooling systems. It said our bodies are highly adaptable to hot temps under the right conditions and 60-90 minutes of several weeks helps acclimate. People with weak systems might not do alright but the majority should.
Example: I enjoy sauna. People start gradually and work up to extended times of 150 degrees plus. Some people take their sauna at 200 degrees. But, accumulating and building up is key. Now, a steam room at 120 is unbearable to me and I can only stay a fraction of the time.
Variables.
One's ability to withstand heat depends on physical health, acclimation, hydration level, humidity, and ability to stay out of direct sun and remain in a rested state. Hence, losing weight, hydrating, wearing proper clothing, staying out of direct sun, getting breeze and wind, etc.
Humanity survives. We lived here before AC. Some people died while others thrived. Personally, I am not great in heat - I am one generation removed from REZ life and of Alaskan Native decent. I wear shorts and t-shirts in snow storms and my wife thinks she is dying bundled up in ski gear. Cold doesn't impact me but I need to be careful with heat...however, living in Phoenix was great after acclimating.
Deal with the response getting to you....and if that actually gets to you, dang man, you really struggle with opposing opinions and worldviews don't you? You'll be ok. Settle down.
babyCuckquean@reddit
I think the problem is there is a warming world happening. Its not fan fiction, its reality and its happening now. Wet bulb temps causing mass casualties - not just the sick, disabled, aged and young (personally i think its sick that those members of society have their deaths minimised/discounted, whether its by heat, covid or anything else)- are on the increase, and we humans can only handle these humid high temps for a couple of hours at rest. Not moving around.
It wont be long before extreme wet bulb events kill off animals, insects and humans on a regular basis. Its not going to be business as usual for those who can survive either - society as we know it will collapse as the food chain does.
There has been a mass extinction before from temps rising too much in a 100year period - too fast for species to adapt. We have been told we are in the 6th mass extinction as we speak, we know that the apex predator ALWAYS goes extinct in a mass extinction, and we've been told to stop our damn planet warming up before its too late.
Spoiler: its too late to keep us under 2.5°C rise from pre industrial times. Thats too much for too many species, too fast. For a clever life form we are inexcusably dumb, naive in the extreme, and stubborn af.
TheUplifted1@reddit
Follow up question, are you still in Phoenix? Speaking from someone that has lived in the valley for most of his life and is not sure if he should eventually look into moving to another state.
mlotto7@reddit
We left Phoenix. We now live in the Midwest. I am originally from Pacific NW and Phoenix was great for us but we all missed green, lush, water, seasons. Midwest is home now and we really like it.
TheRabble-Rouser82@reddit
Great point! Most people don’t even realize, this is the reason why, if u look at photos of family members/relatives to Gen. X’rs, starting with grandparents, great grandparents, etc., ( the generations born before the advent of AC), those people appeared to be much older looking than someone born after central air conditioning was invented. The reason is energy transference & the process by which this transference has the harshest effect, is radiation. Heat, is energy being emitted from an object. Our sun, is a type of a factory that produces it’s energy via the process of radiation. All energy regardless of the 3 transference method, will be transferred at some point. The increased aging our ancestors experienced, was due to them being exposed to roughly the same amount of energy from the sun, but nothing to limit the amount of energy they absorbed. The transfer of heat energy from the sun, aka solar radiation, is what caused people who lived “pre A/C” to wrinkle faster than us. As the sun emits its “solar energy” in the form of “solar radiation“ (energy originating from the sun’s inner core & traveling @ the speed of light until it is absorbed by something in its path) and our soft carbon based bodies catch this energy & absorb it similar to a catcher’s mitt, catching a baseball, thrown from a pitcher. Heat is the baseball, & we are the catcher’s mitt! All around us 24/7, we are bombarded by tiny particles of energy (atoms) that are absorbed 1 of 3 ways. Convection, conduction, & radiation. Radiation from the Sun, is literally the exact form of energy created in a nuclear reactor, because that is exactly what the Sun is. Air conditioning has slowed down the aging process significantly because the cool air it produces, acts like a sort of shield that slows down the suns radiation, by a means of temperature differential. So the shield of cooler air absorbs a good amount of the energy being emitted through a process of convection heat transfer. The Freon in the coils pull the heat from surrounding air, by the process of refrigeration which in itself, is a form of convection heat transfer. The difference in the air temperatures between the hot solar radiated air & the cool air conditioned air, acts as a conductive “heat shield”, aka energy barrier.
voiderest@reddit
One issue to think about is that a lot of buildings have been built with AC in mind so there aren't features you'd want without it. Like we could have awnings to reduce heat from the sun on the windows or some amount of passive cooling.
If your area is dry swamp cooler could be something to look into. If you live in a swamp it probably won't work.
cmfppl@reddit
Make a root celler or partially subterranean shelter.
OpheliaLives7@reddit
Digging in the Deep South we hit water. There’s a reason we don’t have basements
innkeeper_77@reddit
You aren’t wrong- but look up wet bulb temperature events. In some highly limited areas in the US, but more often in some areas of Asia, the wet bulb temperature- aka the temperature you could cool down to with sweat and misting etc- is still going above SURVIVABLE levels. This is becoming more and more common, and will make air conditioning literally life or death in some areas, I believe Texas has some areas at risk for this. It’s mostly in very humid yet also very hot locations.
Hunter62610@reddit
Consider an underground space as well, if you can afford it. A few feet underground is often a lot cooler. I believe heat pumps work based on this as well.
darobk@reddit
No, it is helpful. It's truth and hopefully can open some people's eyes.
A bunch of people are gonna have to get used to being uncomfortable, fast
StillAroundHorsing@reddit
I personally think we need more salt water pools, too.
the300bros@reddit
Probably their idea of comfort was different than ours. So might not have been a big deal to them. And we can get acclimated too
Ok-Research7136@reddit
In 95F at 100% humidity, even a healthy person can die in 6 hours. In extended heatwaves smaller bodies of water can heat up so much that even swimming can't save you.
Without electricity your options are limited. Digging into the earth to find cooler temperatures can be an option. Personally I think an urban prepper would be wise to store emergency water frozen in their deep freeze. Useful for keeping food from spoiling, useful for emergency cooling of people, and useful for drinking.
Very-Confused-Walrus@reddit
In the summer I open windows. In the winter I close them, I don’t have central ac lol. It sucks but it’s not gonna kill you
LetsGoToMichigan@reddit
I bought a few acres in Michigan after the horrible summer we had last year in Texas.
Extreme-Book4730@reddit
Where is the south do your 100-105 for MONTHS? Because I'm in the south and see 90s here and there some years for a few months but never 100s.
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Texas. The last 2 years it was over 100 degrees for 80-90 days. This year it was a bit more mild in comparison, but still our 7th hottest summer in recorded history. AZ also sees 100+ degrees for months, but at least it’s dry heat.
1one14@reddit
Solar panels, inverter, batteries, and a window unit or mini split.
ThisIsAbuse@reddit
I grew up in the north. Cold is easy. My dog and I go for a nice 2 mile walk in -15 degree F. Good gloves are the only challenge.
In my area we have natural gas and fire places. Power occasionally goes out for storms. Natural gas never does.
Mundane-Jellyfish-36@reddit
Solar power is a benefit regardless of disaster. It pays for itself.
SpacemanLost@reddit
What I just did for my mother in Florida to deal with the next Hurricane (she was without power for 11 days last time). tl;dr - 800w of Solar, 3KW Battery Bank and an Inverter AC window unit (450-600 watts depending on load). Put the battery stack on a little cart and labeled everything so she can set it up by herself including the solar panels.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
I guess it's a different kind of heat, we don't have the humidity, but I've lived in California my entire life without AC, I'm sure there's people in the south that are the same .
I don't really think it's a necessity to survive, it's a luxury, people have been surviving and getting by without AC for a long time
Academic_1989@reddit
I'm thinking you have not spent a summer in Texas recently? For those of us over 50 who have some chronic health issues (not obesity related), our temperatures are dangerous and not survivable long term without AC. This summer, my area had one period of 10 days with highs well over 100 and nightly lows in the mid to upper 80s. My prep for this in the event of a power failure? The gas tank in my car is always almost full, I have a case of water and a bag of non-perishable food ready to load, I have an extra pillow and blanket in the car, and I can head west and north and be at high elevation in about 5 hours. So my prep is short term bug out, with the option of longer term if gas pumps are running within a few hours and I can fill up the motorhome.
SpacemanLost@reddit
I spent 20+ years living in Texas before moving to the PNW in late 2008. People do not realize how humid the east half of the state is .. and how much of a heat island effect the metro areas are producing.
I had a heat incident that impacted me to this day. It was summer 2008 in Austin and I learned that the AC in my apartment could be shut off remotely to keep from overloading the grid, which they did at 4PM. Despite being north facing and ground floor, it took no more than 5 minutes for the apartment to become quite uncomfortable. I took my elderly dog (who would die a month later) and sought cooler temps in my car, which I needed to keep moving lest it overheat. It really opened my eyes to just how totally dependent on AC everyone in Texas has made their lives.
By contrast, I recall being much further out in west Texas, in similar 100+ temps, but sub 15% humidity - worlds more tolerable than the same temps in Dallas or Houston.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
It's mid and upper 90s here all week, earlier in the summer it was 105-110°F for about two weeks, people got by, people got by before AC existed
Eredani@reddit
Sure, because we are just as resilient as our ancestors, and it's not like the weather is getting more extreme or anything.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
I don't think it's a matter of resiliency. Physiologically we are the same as our ancestors, it's not like we've adapted to climate controlled environments and lost genetic traits which had allowed humans to survive without AC for the entire existence of our species..
There are plenty of people in California, in the south and in the impoverished countries to our south, where it is much hotter. AC is a modern comfort, a luxury and isn't necessary for survival
belleweather@reddit
Whole house fan, ceiling fans, and -- if you're really into long-term prepping -- plant a tree. Our house is shaded by a gigantic silver-maple and it's shocking what a difference that makes. We can make it without A/C up to the high eighties and be relatively comfortable just with fans if we don't exert ourselves too much.
Vegetaman916@reddit
Out in the desert mountains where we are, underground was an option for both. Once you are at a certain depth, temperature is much easier to deal with, both ways.
MadRhetorik@reddit
Up until the last few years I did 5 years of no heat and no ac. For the heat this is what I did.
Minimize cooking indoors
I routinely wore minimal clothing ie: shorts
Fans in windows
Damp rags on forehead to go to sleep at night
Stay in the shade
Embrace the suck. It’s not fun when it’s 95 degrees and 60% humidity out. Learn to sit and not move a whole lot. I’ve lived in high desert environments and humid environments. Humidity 100% sucks way worse.
Odd_Ad5913@reddit
I quickly realized many of the costs to prep without electricity and or to be without AC, start getting close to just getting a generator and window unit. Heck of a lot more comfortable too. I realize that may not be an option for all, but for under $1000, you can get a nice sized generator, an AC unit, and gas/propane cans. Factoring the cost of food saved during power outages, it pays for itself after 2-3 outages.
Nervous-Worker-75@reddit
That is not sustainable long term though.
Odd_Ad5913@reddit
What’s long term? With a natural gas hookup it’s basically indefinite, especially if you have oil and spark plugs for maintenance. If you’re talking about months or years… then less so of course.
Nervous-Worker-75@reddit
Not sustainable if you're relying on cans of propane.
Odd_Ad5913@reddit
Correct. Care to answer my question about the timeframe you’re trying to prep for, or comment on the natural gas solution? Hard to help when you only focus on the part that won’t work for you.
Nervous-Worker-75@reddit
Dude, relax? Yeah, if you have natural gas hookup that keeps working, then it's fine. You didn't say that at first, you said cans of gas/propane.
By long-term I mean weeks or months.
You need to calm the fuck down.
Odd_Ad5913@reddit
lol - because, I’m upset? I said hard to help when you only focus on the part that doesn’t work. I think you need to calm down… you seem very ready to start telling others about their emotions and what to do. It’s not a very charming characteristic.
Nervous-Worker-75@reddit
Take your meds, dude.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
FOR NO AC
I have an outdoor area with shade. I have chairs, a table, and an ancient army cot in case I want to sleep outside. I have a solar panel with a long cord I can run into the shade to run any electronics. I have an emergency radio I can listen to that also has a solar panel on it also.
I bought a special type of cloth that will help block out the sun but still allow in the wind. Basically a large, airy tarp.
I have a small pool I can fill with water to stick my feet in to help cool me off.
I have several cool cloth to help cool me down. I have misting bottles to spray my legs. Yes- I know these really only work if there isn't high humidity but they work if there is any form of a breeze.
I have camping fans, both rechargeable ones and battery powered ones that help the cool cloths work more efficiently.
I have very cool, comfortable clothing in light colors. I'm slowly getting linen clothing made but right now most are cotton blends.
I have hats to protect myself from the sun.
I have a way to cook outside so I don't needlessly heat up the interior of my space. Heating up the interior with no way to cool it down would be just crazy.
FOR HEAT IN THE COLD
I have a propane heater. Actually, I have several.
I have an 18k ventless propane tank in my living area hooked to a 250 gallon tank outside. I got it set up last year after a year using small tanks for heat. The small tanks work just fine but the large tank is so much cheaper.
I have 2 tank top propane heaters, 1 very old, 1 brand new. These can heat smaller rooms in a pinch but they will also work in the garage or barn if needed. These work on top of 20lb BBQ tanks. I've had to lend both of these out before during power outages to friends who are not prepared.
I have a 2n1 propane heater/stove top. For camping but works great in a pinch. Also great to cook on in a pinch with a heat diffuser on top. I prefer my 2 flat burner propane stove but this does both in one unit.
And before you come after me, yes, I have functional explosive gas detectors with CO2 monitor. I have CO monitors. I've been at this a very long time.
And if all else fails, I can go to my neighbor's place where he has a wood stove in his basement with a 1950s?-1960s era propane heater upstairs.
I also have a kerosene stove in storage but it is much too large for my SQ footage. It would need to be a prolonged extreme freeze before I could use it.
I'm thinking about setting up an exterior wood stove with the heat piped into my place but that will be after my roof is replaced.
ekb2023@reddit
Any recommendations for a propane heater for a small apartment?
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
18k is the smallest Mr. Buddy that has a built in pilot light. I spent a winter using a smaller one without a pilot light. It was OK but it was difficult. If I left the house, I had to plan to either leave the heat on or off. Not a big deal if I was gone an hour or two but if I got into trouble in town I could come home to excess heat or icicles. 18k will heat a decent sized room or 2 smaller rooms. But if you don't have larger tanks, you wouldn't be able to leave it alone for long anyway without running out.
If you work long hours or ever have to travel, you want at least the 18k. I have a 30k that I bought used out of a 3 car garage and it can put out a bunch of heat. I used to heat 3 rooms of a mobile home with it before I moved and went smaller. It is much to big for here.
If you just want backup heat only for a single room, a tank top heater will work fine. You will have to turn it on and off yourself but it is a cheap, reliable heat. I got my new one last black Friday for $17 at Menards. They go directly on top of a 20lb propane tank
A tank top heater will work for 4-6 days on a 20lb tank. And that is with it going most of the time, it just has 3 different settings. By turning it on and off, you can make it last longer.
My 15k, 2n1 heater/stove would last 5 days usually during the winter with me turning it on and off several times during the day. The turning it on and off really sucked though but it would get too hot to leave it on constantly.
ekb2023@reddit
Wow thanks for the write up. Very informative.
nativefloridian@reddit
Evaporative cooling FTW. I got laid off one summer and couldn't afford to run the AC - I did all of this, showers before bed and when I woke up, and I also basically turned nocturnal. Even in the summer, it'll usually be in the 70s for a little bit - between midnight and dawn.
cacklz@reddit
I know that you said no electricity, but if you can set up a modest solar system that could provide even a small amount of AC power, I would recommend a dehumidifier for the house. I live in the South, and my elderly mom's AC went out over a year ago (she lives with me now due to health reasons) and neither of us could afford to replace a unit for her 2200 sqft home.
I could, however, buy a dehumidifier rated for 3000 sqft. I set it up to keep mold at bay but, surprisingly enough, keeping the humidity down to 35-40% during the summer the house still stays hot but is much more comfortable that I expected. I installed it in the utility closet with the air handler unit and plumbed its drain into the AC drain. It does put out some heat but it's quite tolerable, and isn't too bad energy-wise. (I even got a small federal rebate since it was Energy-Star rated.)
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
I have small dehydrators in each room. I use the kind that doesn't heat up. Not as efficient but they do work.
I'm planning solar panels. They have solar run mini-splits and solar ACs. Saving money for those once I get my vehicle paid off.
RedSquirrelFtw@reddit
Look at getting a small window unit, the smallest one you can buy, and solar power. When it's hot, it's usually also sunny. Can set it up in the bedroom and run it all day with door closed. Gives you a place to go cool off during the day, and also makes it a bit less hard to sleep at night even after you turn it off.
The worse part about heat is trying to do any kind of physical work in it as it's just so miserable being all sweaty and sticky and crap. So try to plan to do those things in the fall when it's not as hot. I live in northern ontario but due to climate change our summers are way too hot now to really be able to do anything so I book most of my vacation at this time of year when it's colder out and not as miserable to work in, but also before the snow comes. In spring there's just too much snow to actually be able to get anything done, in summer by the time the snow is all gone it's too hot, in fall it cools off but there's no snow yet, so it's the perfect time. Then use winter months to get indoor stuff done.
SufficientTie3319@reddit
Get a generator ?
TheCarcissist@reddit
One thing I did to get through the summer was hang sun block fabrics under the eves to shade the house. Actually made a huge difference
briko3@reddit
Fans. And you'll get used to it after a few weeks. I know people who work at a nuclear plant in the generator floor. 120 degrees and humid. They say it's miserable for a few weeks, but even they get used to it after that.
Vivid-Juggernaut2833@reddit
Those evaporative cooling bandannas actually work quite well when the humidity is less than 90%.
Literally dipping yourself in cool water at the peak of the daily temperature spike can help.
TheLostExpedition@reddit
Block, ston or foam walls, a basement or root cellar, a pool or whatever to cool off.
A drop down ceiling, insulated attic, or a whirlybird to draw the heat off.
Many desert cultures throughout history built their houses tall to chimney out the heat. There's lots of literature.
If its hot dig down. If its cold layer up.
Eredani@reddit
My solution to both is the same: a very robust solar generator. This unit can quietly power fans and even space heaters in addition to safe indoor cooking, lights, and recharge USB devices.
If it's just a few days, then an inverter generator will work quite well, and it's not a problem to have enough gasoline and/or propane on hand. But if the situation lasts more than a week, either you will run out of fuel or be the only very audible one in the area with power.
Just note the power requirements. Fans are easy at around 60 watts. An electric cooktop uses a lot (1200 watts), but you are probably only running it for 15 min. AC and space heaters can use even more (up to 1500 watts) and may need to run all the time. You need A LOT of solar panels and battery storage for this! My $9000 Bluetti setup will struggle to run an AC or space heater full time.
If you are looking for low-tech options, I'm sure others here will have something more productive than my "toughen up" lecture.
Relative_Ad_750@reddit
Resistive space heaters are incredibly inefficient. A mini-split heat pump will provide 3-4x as much heat as a resistive space heater for the same amount of input energy.
wakanda_banana@reddit
I’ve looked into it. For long lasting power that would power even just a window unit, you need a ton of power. A legit home generator or full on solar solution is probably your best bet. You could use a gas generator for a little bit but then you’re reliant on gas and they’re loud.
Relative_Ad_750@reddit
This is not really correct. A Honda EU2200 inverter generator would easily power a couple window units or a 1-ton mini-split heat pump while being extremely quiet.
CaveSquirrel1971@reddit
I live in North Central Arkansas. During my life I spent two summers (12 years apart) camping from June to October. Being in the woods (or anywhere out of the sun helps. Get wet; the evaporation will help cool you (not as much as AC, but you will thoroughly enjoy every breeze no matter how slight). It may take a couple years to acclimate though. Keep water handy. This is why you see pictures of great depression families sitting on a covered porch with a pail of drinking water hanging from a post.
Cow_Man42@reddit
Evaporation only helps if the humidity is below a certain level. 100% humidity in 100 degree heat and getting wet just makes you wet.
CaveSquirrel1971@reddit
True, I should have included that the humidity in my area usually averages in the 70's, which still makes it tough to cool off, thus the mention of a breeze which helps evaporation.
Ill-Spot-4893@reddit
As far as AC, you can live without it. but a homeade swamp cooler shall work fine. Heating you need, and I don't have the slightest clue.
Jammer521@reddit
The south is way to humid for a swamp cooler to work
Jammer521@reddit
it's pretty hard to prep for high wet bulb temps without any power, you need some form of back up power to at least power a dehumidifier
mdjmd73@reddit
If u have natural gas, get a tri fuel genny big enough to power most of the house, hire a plumber to get your gas line where you need it, and hire an electrician to add a whole home transfer switch and external power inlet. We just did this (in Texas) and have indefinite power, as long as there’s NG.
Reverend_Mikey@reddit
I live in Alabama, and last summer my AC went out in the middle of July. Every AC repair service nearby had a 2 week backlog. Luckily, I have an unfinished basement/garage that I had been meaning to clear out, so I made myself a nice little space to hole up - an old couch, area rug, some camping tables and chairs that I was already storing down there came in handy.
It never got over 78 degrees down there over the next couple of weeks. Set up a couple of box fans and was comfortable enough until the AC was repaired.
If you don't have a basement, think about investing in a tornado shelter or root cellar - something underground. We are in tornado alley and it's a prudent investment, and they do stay nice and cool.
AZdesertpir8@reddit
Install a solar powered AC unit. Best thing since sliced bread!
Wayson@reddit
I have rechargeable fans for at night and a indoor safe propane heater that can be fed by a 20 pound tank with a hose. As long as I can get propane refills I am fine and I can charge the fans with solar. I also have a lot of heavy wool blankets and the ability to generate a cross breeze by opening windows to cool the interior down in summer.
I think though that the most important thing I have is a geographic area where there are no wet bulb events and where it is not sub freezing for six months during winter.
dp37405@reddit
You get used to it. May take a bit, but your body will adjust, sure it'll be hot, but you'll survive. How do you think farmers and construction workers can work in the heat all day? We are accustomed to a 70 degree climate because of AC, not going to be fun but you'll get there.
Cow_Man42@reddit
As a former construction worker and a current farmer......Yes, to a point. I was working a gig near Savannah back in the day and it hit 110 with 100% humidity......We couldn't keep hydrated and started getting terrible cramps and dizzy....We were all in our 20's and spent years working outside in GA all year long.....It was past the threshold of a human body to function and still work.....When the guy from Southern Mexico dropped we all hid in the trucks AC till quitting time.
Adol214@reddit
Passive house.
Earthship house.
Google this and you will find nice tips. But most require major renovation on existing build.
But you can still Modify your house so it get less warm.
Paint all wall and roof with white reflective paint.
More SHADE and WIND (air flow control).
Have plants around the house, it will help heat as plant natural transpire to cool off.
PrisonerV@reddit
Told the wife, if we ever win the lottery, I'm building an evil lair underground.
Similar to this house in Las Vegas, only larger outer dome.
Adol214@reddit
Given the climate change, this is going to become the norm.
dANNN738@reddit
Not very practical but I believe if you go down 10 feet almost anywhere on the planet the temperature is maintained at 10-16C
Cow_Man42@reddit
Generator for a portable AC unit.
6894@reddit
Do you have a basement?
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
No, I’m in Texas and an area where we have limestone so can’t get far digging.
Big-Cantaloupe-9201@reddit
I’m in Az. And it’s hot. I have a portable ac unit that you can move around and vent thru tubing out the window and a solar powered generator. The portable ac unit has saved me when my ac went out! Also have a little mini ice maker that works off USB and makes ice every 6 minutes that I love. I think that was about $60 on Amazon
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Can you send me the link?
longhairedcountryboy@reddit
If it's cold you can burn a tree. Everybody needs a wood stove you can cook on.
If it's hot you can go to the swimming hole and sit under a shade tree like we did when I was a kid before AC.
RedYamOnthego@reddit
Cook outdoors in the summer, either in a special kitchen or just bbqing.
Take advantage of the north parts of the house (south for southern hemisphere). These get the least solar heat, so keep them closed off. You'll want to locate food back here to keep it cooler, and stinky toilets on the north side as well. Have some sort of cool room in the middle. Northeast will be cooler than northwest.
Shade trees.
High ceilings, ceiling fans, and those very old fashioned wind sweepers.
I doubt you can do much about an ice house, but look into heat exchangers.
In the winter, you'll live in the south part of the house and heat that part.
Oh, and shades make a huge difference. In summer, open things up at night to cool air and to radiate heat. Close it up as soon as it starts getting warmer. Plan your activities for early morning and evening.
Winter, you catch all the solar you can while blocking drafts. Close the house & windows at night so you aren't radiating heat out, and you keep the generated heat in.
Adol214@reddit
Cook outside is often ignored. But it is a easy one.
nativefloridian@reddit
I used to spend summers with grandma - her house never had AC. Many times we ate ice cream sandwiches for lunch while sitting in front of a fan watching the price is right. She would cook a proper breakfast in the morning to make up for it.
peteavelino@reddit
I think I would personally end up building shelter underground. 55 degrees underground during 105 heat, gimme a shovel.
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Yeah I’m in an area that has limestone so wouldn’t get very far 😅
peteavelino@reddit
Even better! Limestone is soft, gimme a pick!
EmberOnTheSea@reddit
I live in Michigan but contemplate the same problem. Cold isn't that big of a problem, even here it is rarely cold enough to present a real danger to life as long as you have shelter. You can always build a fire if you are desperate and I have a stock of wood.
However, heat is dangerous, especially combined with humidity. I also have an older dog that is super sensitive to the heat. I have a Jackery and several fans and an ice maker. The dogs have raised cots and I try to keep a full tank of gas to use the car's air conditioning if someone seems at risk of overheating. If all else fails, I will dig a hole in the backyard to sleep in, my yard is fully shaded.
My house is over 100 years old and holds heat something awful during the summer, so I'm not sure housing design makes much of a difference. Though it probably was cooler 100 years ago where I am too and we've only recently developed into a city big enough to have an urban heat island affect.
DoItAgain24601@reddit
As someone who lives where it's hot, the older house are built for airflow. There's gaps under the interior doors to let the cool air circulate and many have vents over the doors to let the heat out. High ceilings, covered porches, smaller windows, and raised up off the ground help cool the house as well.
nativefloridian@reddit
I've lived in old Florida Homes. The really good ones have whole-house attic fans. Sucks out all the hot air, pulls cool air up from the crawlspace below the house. I was really disappointed when I moved into one that had had one originally installed. The motor was still there and still ran, but the blade was long gone. As was Sears, so no replacements to be had.
Human9651@reddit
r/solardiy
OlderNerd@reddit
Well there isn't much we could do here in North Texas without air conditioning for an extremely long time. But I do have a window unit and a generator that I could use for a couple of days. We would just hunker down in two rooms and use the window unit to try to stay at least a little bit comfortable
this_guy_here_says@reddit
Dig down , the temp is alot more reasonable a few feet underground
Dangerous-Kick8941@reddit
Set up enough solar and batteries to run a window ac/ heat unit to have a cool room and maybe run an ice maker for adding to water.
Add awnings to all the windows, or if you can, build a wrap around porch to shade the direct sun out your windows.
Missouran@reddit
If you've got some land... horizontal loop ground source.
You could diy it with a backhoe and save a bunch, or have it professionally installed for 10k or so.
It should pay for itself pretty quickly in lower heat and air conditioning bills while the grid is up.
Cyanide11Nitro@reddit
Solar does mine. I have just 2 solar panels and 8 batteries. Also if you don't have access to solar use metal roofing on the inside of a garage helps keep it cool in summer
Living-Excuse1370@reddit
There's a reason the Mediterranean areas have shutters on the windows, blocking the sun coming in is really important, while encouraging airflow, with open windows from the shady parts. Then fans for added air circulation. Use rooms that are coolest.
Craftyfarmgirl@reddit
Linen clothing is cooler. Plant shade trees that are drought resistant, and put canopies over windows to shade the house. In the meantime those changes will lower your utility bills. Solar power. Make an outdoor kitchen.
Rough-Economy-6932@reddit
This may be overkill but i will mention it anyway. If you live on an acre or more, you should consider excavating an underground lair. It doesnt have to be an expensive bunker. Create a basement of some type. In Australia’s outback there are sapphire mines where the outside temps are in the 100sF and just below the ground 10 feet or so, it could be at 69 degrees F.
I think a subterranean refuge would be a cheap and long term solution to chronic hot weather relief.
No-Win-1137@reddit
I bought a gardena shower-mister combo. Two or three cold showers a day is enough to keep me cool even when I work in the midday sun. If I am in front of a fan I will get very cool very quickly. The mister keeps a small area cool where it is okay to hang out.
Carnifex91@reddit
Here’s what I do when working outside in the summer after growing up on the gulf coast with high humidity.
Move slower.
Use wet towels on your body to help your sweat.
Wear breathable, long sleeved shirts and long pants.
Wear a hat.
Shade is your friend, when planning work, think about when the area will have the most shade. If it never gets shade, bring your own.
Water, water, water, and more water.
Oh, did I mention water? You can never have enough. If you feel thirsty, you’re not drinking enough.
Some guys I know freeze water bottles and stick them in their pants pockets. I don’t like that personally because that leaves you with a really wet backside, but they say it makes them more comfortable.
I can’t help you with the cold. I’ve probably only ever experienced 100 or so days below freezing in my entire life, and I’m not that young.
tempest1523@reddit
My A/C died last year in Aug/Sep in Georgia and it took 2 weeks while they ordered a new unit and got me on schedule. So I lived this and it’s my worst SHTF scenario. I had enough foresight to have a window unit as a backup but that made one room livable. We needed a second window unit for the bedroom to make sleeping possible.
As a thought experiment I extended my emergency and thought what if I’m using these window units without power. Obviously I found I needed min 1 unit to survive, 2 to be comfortable so how do I power that. So I need 660 watts per unit, then I started planning my generator power, solar batteries to run at night for quiet, how much fuel would get me how long, added in some solar panels to supplement fuel.
But losing A/C in the heat of summer in the South is my worst case scenario that I plan for. We had a tornado took out power for a week in March 5 years back and it was no issue. Even in dead winter it wouldn’t be that bad. But middle of summer? Can’t sleep, can’t get comfortable, with high humidity you sweat and stay wet because it doesn’t evaporate so you stay miserable wet and muggy.
bideto@reddit
Just read in another Reddit sub, someone posted about having a battery operated fan or two on hand. I was kind of dumbstruck- had never considered that. Great idea.
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Yes got those!
jv1100@reddit
Here in FL I know a lot of the old timers would sleep on the porch during the summer.
premar16@reddit
Sadly there are many places in the US that only were able to settled permanently because of AC. Befpre that people would only live in these areas during certain parts of the year then would move when it got to hot.
ee-5e-ae-fb-f6-3c@reddit
Figure out where the sun is going to hit your windows during the hottest parts of the day, and cover them with aluminum foil, shiny side out. Do multiple layers if you can. Your house will look like a tweaker house, but it will also be a little cooler.
Fix the seals on your doors and windows. This works for both summer and winter.
Get used to opening windows at opposite sides of the house in the morning, and late at night, in order to guide airflow through the house, and shut the house up before it gets hot. You'll have to play with this to get it right.
Manage air space inside the house. If you know a particular room gets especially hot during the day, isolate it by closing the door, and blocking the gap under the door.
Get used to being warmer than you'd like.
An alternative is to start building underground, which is going to be significantly cooler than underground.
EnviousLemur69@reddit
Solar?
bastardmoth@reddit
I live on the West Coast of Canada, my group has a bug out spot in the interior. Our spot is an old abandoned mine, complete with an old caved in mineshaft that has a glacial spring and cool air that comes out probably 15-20 cooler than the surrounding temperature. If you can use something already a part of the land go with that.
middleagerioter@reddit
Get solar panels. Have a basement. Cook outside in the evenings when it's cooler(ish) for the whole day. Look up building designs on youtube for building techniques used in African countries/Eastern/MidEastern countries.
Seriously. get solar panels and use them. all this talk about other ways of doing things is a neat thought process, but just get solar panels and hook up your ac to them.
Traditional-Leader54@reddit
Plenty of water is going to be biggest key to dealing with the heat. Not only for consumption but a wet bandana on your head and or neck goes a long way. If you’ve never tried it try it the next time you’re working outdoors in the summer. It was game changing for me. A well, pool, or a near by creek/river would be gold.
A solar charging power supply like an EcoFlow would be able to run a fan or a countertop ice maker (they take about 8 min to make a batch of ice good enough for a big glass of water). Battery powered fans including a mister fan is also a big help.
To stay warm obviously blankets and propane space heaters work well. Hot water to make warm food/drinks. A wood or pellet stove is great heat source to have.
Using a tent indoors is a good way to create a smaller space that you can easily keep warmer with a small heater, candles, etc. especially for sleeping. Just take proper precautions to not start a fire or build up carbon monoxide. Kerosene heaters are a good backup us as well.
nozynelly712@reddit
I live in a place that can get both very hot and humid in the summer and well below zero in the winter. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in a old farm house and my parents had some tricks because there were times that the power went out and we had no generator.
Extreme heat: Yes, to avoiding cooking in house. Keep cool with linen sheets and linen clothing. Also, take a sheet and cut it into strips. Get them wet. Hang the strips over the windows that are capturing a breeze. The air hitting the wet sheet strips make a little off-grid air conditioner. You will need to keep wetting the strips as the day goes on. Or, keep a tub of water at the base of the strips so that they continue to soak up water/cool as the day goes on. (I hope this makes sense)
Extreme cold: We have a fireplace. Also, you can use hot water bottles to put in the bed to keep it toasty. Electric blankets if you have a power source. Or, put your sleeping bag on your bed. Then, make a little tent out of a blanket to go over your bed. I've even seen people putting tents in their house and then sleeping in them to help preserve body heat.
silasmoeckel@reddit
Is your house setup to deal with those temps without AC? Sleeping porches lots of windows etc etc etc to keep the home reasonable? They did acclimate but they also were not trying to do it in a raised ranch that does not get any airflow naturally.
Cold get a heating source in place wood stove what have you.
All in all we do better in cold than hot if you remove the last 100 years HVAC, heating is relatively simple. There are good reasons few people lived in places like FL before HVAC became widespread.
EmberOnTheSea@reddit
As someone who desperately wants a woodstove, do be aware alternative heat sources are increasingly difficult to find homeowners insurance for. My prepping plan included having one installed but as I already own bully breed dogs, I have had to put this off, as no one wants to insure both.
silasmoeckel@reddit
My insurance company didn't balk at all for a combo wood coal propane cook stove, it's a new house 2 years old.
I think they just check propane so it's not an issue they are expensive news from the likes of lehmans but but plenty of conversions in that super thick porcelain around me for reasonable prices.
EmberOnTheSea@reddit
USAA is definitely more lenient in their underwriting than most carriers though and most people won't qualify to be written with them.
Some states like CA and FL only have a handful of carriers still writing in them, so it is definitely something people should check into before pulling the plug.
I'm in MI and Allstate was the only one I could find willing to write a wood stove and my breed of dog and the pricing was prohibitive.
I work in the insurance industry, so while it isn't a problem everywhere, it is a problem in some places. Always a good idea to check rather than end up uninsurable.
Environmental_Art852@reddit
Is this USA? May I know where you bought your stove?
InsaneNorseman@reddit
A friend of mine has property in Florida, and he really wanted a root cellar. Unfortunately, the water table there is so close to the surface that a hole deeper than 3 or 4 feet fills with water. His solution was to build a masonry block structure at grade level with a poured concrete roof, insulate it with 4" Styrofoam insulation, and then berm it with 4' of dirt. He did this a number of years ago, and he says that even in the hottest days of summer, it still never exceeds about 65°F in his root cellar. While this isn't quite ideal for year-round food storage, he says it's a great "refuge" from the heat when the power is out, and it also makes a really good storm shelter. I realize that not everyone has enough property (or the budget) to do something like this, but just figured I'd share what worked for him.
DoItAgain24601@reddit
3 or 4 feet? Shoot, in this area you go 3 or 4 inches and you've hit the water table. Any idea how large this structure is he did?
InsaneNorseman@reddit
Yeah, I've been inside it. It's 8' wide and 12' long, the width was limited by the fact that he had some concrete "pans", I think he called them, that are designed for pouring floor and roof slabs that he used when he poured the roof. He bought them really cheap from a building materials liquidator place. They basically look like a really heavy-duty version of corrugated roofing, but are specifically made for pouring concrete in. They remain in place after the concrete is poured. He used cinderblock to build the structure, and then filled the voids in all the block to make it stronger, which is referred to as a "fully grouted" wall. He said that the concrete pans he used for the roof are engineered to be able to span the width without any issues, but he still put a temporary beam at the mid-point to support them when he poured the roof just for "extra insurance", even though it supposedly wasn't needed.
poppycock68@reddit
Pan deck is what it is called.
DoItAgain24601@reddit
Wow! Thank you for the detailed response! His construction makes way more sense with those details. Have not seen the pans before, I'll have to look around for those-the roof was always the part I couldn't figure out how to do when I've considered something like this. Although, to be fair, it was for hiding from hurricanes lol. Wonder if it'd be cheaper to do a pour in place style on the walls than filling block...
Wastelander42@reddit
Shade. Lots of water. If you go into the woods when it's hot as balls you'll stay cool because of all that shade
tuskenraider89@reddit
As previously stated, you’ll most likely have to get used to being uncomfortable. Acclimate your body to the heat. It’s not all that bad once you ditch AC. I personally left the U.S. close to a decade ago and have never had it at any of my residences since then. We do just fine with those temps. Just sweat. A lot. If you have no access to electricity however, then make sure to properly hydrate, dress properly with loose clothing, and ventilate wherever you can. Stay in the shade and move slowly or not much at all. If you do have power, I’d recommend only keeping a part of the house cool. Maybe somewhere where the family can gather together.
Puzzled-Box1269@reddit
This 100 percent. You need to spend time without AC and let your body adjust so it is accustomed to heat BEFORE an event where you have to exist in higher temps.
Guy-with-garden@reddit
GO DOWN, dig into the dirt to build a shelter. Earth have constant temp if deep enough, use it to your benefit.
Dig some pipes below your frost line and blow (solar powered fans) air trough the pipes for a natural AC (if built correctly it can work without fans too).
Where are your closest running stream, river, lake or ocean? Got some forrests there too for shade?
Got some land? Plant trees (fruits or nuts?) for shade, if planted a few meters from the house it can shade it during sunny days to help cool it down..
got a stream on your land? How about a pond or natural swimming pool? Build a forrest or atleast some trees around the stream to shade it and make a cooler outside spot..
Solar/hydro/wind power to run a freezer/refrigerator/ice maker, fans or the like..
Add insulation to your house, most only think about it as keeping heat in, but it also keep heat out on hot days…
For short time emergencies, your car got AC, so stock up on the needed fuel ;) (just remember VENTILATION when running it…)
Going to build new? Consider earthship design as it is excellent for grid down and survivability.
oranggit@reddit
Battery/DC powered fan (O2Cool on Amazon) and a portable power station (Jackery, etc).
Kept me going after a hurricane knocked out power for 3 days here in Central Florida one October. Plenty of breeze through the windows during the day but no wind at night. Hot and humid at night.
MrHmuriy@reddit
You can probably survive without AC, just like your ancestors did in the same area before AC was invented. The worst thing about not having electricity is water, an induction hob, and a refrigerator. But if you prepare in advance, you can solve this too. Most likely, in such a climate there is very high insolation and it is quite possible to install a DC air conditioner, as well as a refrigerator.
silasmoeckel@reddit
But their houses were designed for this many modern ones are not.
MrHmuriy@reddit
When I bought my plot there was an old house on it. To be honest it was very bad to live in during the winter - it would be very cold if you didn't constantly burn wood in the stove, it was made of shit, bricks and sticks, and it was also very uncomfortable in the summer because it had no insulation and the temperature inside rose to 38C. The house I live in was already built according to modern European thermal insulation requirements and is quite comfortable both in winter and summer (even without air conditioning).
DesertRose171@reddit (OP)
Yeah it’s wild to think ancestors have done fine without it. It’s the acclimation that I’m curious about. Our newer homes are not as breathable as they were back then, so does opening windows in the summer make more sense?
Relative_Ad_750@reddit
I would install a 1-ton mini-split heat pump that runs on 120v AC and buy a Honda EU2200 inverter generator for a backup heating/cooling source.
kkinnison@reddit
Solar, generator, power bank
Space heater and mini-split
stay in one room, chill
DeafHeretic@reddit
In the summer, cool down during lower temps (after dark, but maybe as late as early morning, depending on the reason for the heat), by opening up windows/doors and/or ventilating the interior. Then close up when it gets hot.
During the winter, I use a woodstove. No problems there with a properly insulated house. Also, I dress warmer, and wear a hoodie flannel shirt/jacket much of the time inside or out. I try to avoid getting wet.
Where I live (PNW - western side of the Cascades), temps rarely get above 100*F, but it happens, and the 90s are not uncommon. I live at \~1K' elevation on a mountain, and I have tall trees for shade and a windbreak, so it is usually 5-10*F cooler here than in the valley (especially compared to the city, which is usually 5*F warmer than rural, during the summer.
EquivalentResearch26@reddit
I bought a Ryobi cordless fan from Home Depot and it’s single-handedly my favorite prep.
Mosquito prevention My vehicle fan for hot days Excellent room circulation Lightweight, powerful, and portable
Not to mention the battery lasts forEVER!
Adol214@reddit
Spray and hand held fan.
Get water spray, usually sold for plants. Spray yourself in the fine projection setting.
You don't want to get completely wet, but just add a fine layer of water on your clothes / skin.
Then fan yourself or stay in a air currents. The evaporation will cool you off.
This also work when you are force to be in the sun, but don't expose yourself to the sun if you are too warm already.
Bonus: you will sweat less, saving in water consumption.
Odd-Position6128@reddit
I lived without A/C during the heatwaves in Oregon in 2019 and 2020. Keeping all windows open and eating food I didn't have to cook (or only had to boil water in an electric kettle for) helped. I also would get a dress (if you don't wear dresses, use other clothes), soak it with water, and wear it. As the water evaporates, it cools me off. I had my kid do that too. Thankfully we had power, so we could sit in front of fans with our wet clothes on and it helped a lot. Not moving around a lot helps as well. The less I moved around the less hot I got. Another good way is to have the windows open all night to let cool air in, then closing the windows before the heat of the day and closing the curtains- some blackout curtains also work to trap heat or cool air inside and keep out cold or heat. Worst case scenario we would rub pieces of ice on our skin too.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Back-up power, even smaller systems can power fans, fridge/freezers, ice makers, small AC units. You can set up one smaller room as a cooling or heating room.
A basement is great for this, they usually stay between 50-70 degrees year round.
Alternate way to heat a d fuel for it.
ProbablyABore@reddit
I'd think about checking into a good geothermal system and solar panels to power it. It's expensive up front, understatement, but it could definitely provide you with a/c.
Maybe only have it for a bedroom or something to lower the electricity needs and the size of the system plus if you only ran it at night it would mean your panels could charge more in the day needing less panels.
Foragologist@reddit
Water. Can you find a place to take a dip and cool off? Make shadey spots. Dig into the earth, as caves or underground pantrys stay very cool.
Evap coolers are efficient if it's low humidity. Just wet a blanket and sit under it.
For heat, make a fire pit. Earth again, as it's usually ~52 degrees year round. Warm blankets, etc.
WHALE_PHYSICIST@reddit
I got a screened in tent/gazebo thing so that I won't have to stay in the house. We have lots of mosquitos here so it's a must. I also got a rechargeable fan to go with my solar. Best I can do if I don't have gas for the genny
Old_Dragonfruit6952@reddit
Prep an underground home Dig yourself into a hillside with Northern exposure windows .
Temp is lower under the ground Same here in the Northern tier Temp stays about 55 degrees underground We will move into our basement . It is a steady 55 in the winter and about 15 degrees cooler in the summer We are in Southern coastal Maine and very close to the ocean.1 miles Winters are not as bad here on the coast, Summers have been much hotter here the past 10 years We now have to have AC on about 15 days a summer 24/7 winters have been milder. But we understand that major power grid failures will take a very long time to fix Especially if it is an EMP That will be devastating and unfixable Trust me
bazilbt@reddit
I would look into one of these solar mini-splits personally. If I stay in the south I will install a couple.
DancinWithWolves@reddit
Got a link for those? Google isn’t helping
bazilbt@reddit
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-hybrid-solar-mini-split-air-conditioner-heat-pump-ac-dc-12000-btu-seer2-22-plug-n-cool-do-it-yourself-installation/?srsltid=AfmBOoorPdrCGaXDPZgP2uPORyXKgrVXMoEGbfNVO1gLy3mPKhT90qig
Admirable_Snow_s1583@reddit
For the short and easy Answer. Heating you need at woodburner and axe. AC would be sitting up is solar panels system and a lots of fans. There are plenty of other ways to prep for it at you can read in the comments but this short and easy short.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Have multiple backup power systems (including roll-around/ portable AC units), fans, fireplace inserts, firewood, acres of trees, etc
HotIntroduction8049@reddit
I doubt there were big urban heat islands 500 years ago and society was much more nomadic. Head north from the SW in the summer and return in the fall. Those migratory animals have it all figured out.
Former_Ad_8509@reddit
I would minimize the house south exposure, less window and increase the north side. Increase natural wind circulation. Stone and brick walls retain heat late into the night. Wood, or another soft siding would be better. Cob, lime would work too.
I live in Canada so it's the opposite here.
A/c is not that of a problem. Also, most houses here have a basement, so when it's too hot, we can just sleep downstairs.
Heating is easy. You need a big wood stove. That's about it.
According-Peace-6938@reddit
4 solar battery backup systems for me. That should be more than enough to run the central ac along with the two small portable units I picked up
crzyoki@reddit
Long shot but if you have access to ice these can run on a battery or electric. I have one at work and can say it's cold. Icybreeze.com
YardFudge@reddit
Cold is easy - wear more clothes
That heat is hard.
Move? Spray water over everything (like a huge tent that also provides shade) for evaporative cooling. Huge Solar power for AC. Go underground.