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People living in the desert dress in a particular way and adapt to the heat. They also build their permanent structures in a way that maximizes airflow and coo
by Duff 15y ago
People living in the desert dress in a particular way and adapt to the heat.
They also build their permanent structures in a way that maximizes airflow and cools the building. There was a NYT article a few years ago about an 800 year old, un-air conditioned mosque in Baghdad where the temperature was in the low 70's year round.
Pre air-conditioning, western buildings had features like this as well.
- starwed 15y agoI'm slightly frustrated by my current apartment in this regard -- it's an older building, built with the assumption of no air conditioning. There are vents on the interior walls to allow air flow with the interior hallway, which is always pleasantly cool. The management has shuttered those vents, but not added any AC!
- chopsueyar 15y agoGoogle "minisplit".
- starwed 15y agoIf I could fit that into my budget, I would have been living in a nicer place to begin with. :P
- kahawe 15y agoI have seen an airflow system in a newly built house to keep all rooms supplied with fresh air even without opening windows or doors and I think it is a fantastic concept - at least when considering the house was built outside the city. I think this is called "heat recovery ventilation" in English.
- Derbasti 15y agoPost air-conditioning, European buildings are still built like that. Most housing buildings in Europe do not have air conditioning, even in the subtropical south. Speaking of the south, many many buildings in Greece and Italy have a simple mirror and a steel tank on their roofs to supply hot water. No electricity or sophistication needed. Even in the cold north, simple radiators provide enough heat to keep a house warm. Thick walls and small windows are enough to contain air temperatures in both cold Finland and hot Greece.