Creative Ways to Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning
This summer, Germany introduced a heat-relief initiative called ‘Cooling Cologne’, where chilled groundwater creates a mist through fire hoses. In the midst of extreme heat, NPR readers shared practical methods to keep cool without relying on air conditioning. These strategies are both inventive and personal, stemming from childhoods without AC, outdoor work, and family traditions.
Cooling with Water
Bridgit Jordan from Minneapolis finds relief by swimming in the afternoon and wearing her wet swimsuit into the evening. Combining this with a fan helps her stay cool. Olivier El Mekki from Dijon, France uses his bathtub like a plunge pool, filling it with fresh water for a couple of minutes to escape the heat. Inspired by cows who seek tree shade and water during summer, his method is remarkably effective.
In Syria, Amber Thompson suggests taking well-timed showers during extreme heat, refreshing herself with a cool shower before sleeping. Elizabeth Tillinghast from Vermont recalls childhood advice about holding wrists under cold running water. This quick technique cools blood flowing throughout the body.
Playing With Water
Ezra Musselman, reminiscing about southeast Minnesota without plumbing, describes how cold well water took his breath away as he and his brothers playfully sprayed each other with squirt bottles. Dayton Bradford recalls numerous swimming holes near his Tennessee home. Barbara Wunder McAslan from Florida discovered relief while mowing her grandmother’s yard by using a kiddie pool as a personal cooling pool.
Fans and Air Flow
Diane Hinkle from Tennessee shares her family’s approach before air conditioning became common. Using a box fan in an upstairs window pulled in cool night air, and closing windows by 7 a.m. helped keep cool air inside. Chaudhry Awais Ahmed from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, enhances his comfort by using a damp towel with a pedestal fan, turning it into an evaporative cooler as air passes through and cools.
Cool Fashion Tricks
Mary Richardson from Los Angeles suggests wearing a headband filled with ice cubes, offering dual benefits: a cool head and migraine relief. Amy Barlow Liberatore from Platteville, Wisconsin, uses gel scarves encasing tiny bead bundles soaked overnight. Tied around the neck, the scarves keep her cool throughout the day.
May Bolden from Tallahassee shares how her husband, a landscaper, uses ice vests with insertable packs, swapped throughout the day. Kimberly Wasylina from Texas keeps cool with a rolled wet washcloth and ice cubes in a baggie, ideal for a fanny pack. Pat Manly, working in Arizona construction, soaked his shirt in water to stay cool for 30 minutes. In humid New Hampshire, he switched tactics, using frozen water bottles under his armpits.
Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends
Joan Sheehan from Sacramento uses cold packs to help her pets stay cool, recalling her cat’s anticipation by meowing for them.
Shade, Structures, and the Outdoors
Jim Gillen from Portland advises replacing concrete with trees, gardens, and gravel. He remembered families sleeping in parks and suggests sleeping on decks or yards for cooling relief. Gina L. Freeman used awnings to maintain cooler indoor spaces, while Amber Thompson’s Syrian childhood included structural adaptations like removing carpets and sleeping on balconies or tile floors.
Musselman, from Minnesota, recounts sleeping outside, progressing from porch to a tent filled with the lively sounds of summer nights. Watching the moon and stars remains an unforgettable experience.