natural cooling methods

In most cases, air conditioning needs are a result of a wrongly designed home.

Air conditioning sales continue to rise as more people consider it as indispensable... But though our desire for personal comfort is legitimate, air conditioning isn’t as essential as that in well designed homes - even in hot climates.

See: Cooling for cold and temperate climates and Air conditioning for Hot Climates

New homes and remodeling

If building a new home, or remodeling a new one, do not bet on air conditioning. Instead, bet on natural cooling techniques: proper orientation for home exposure to breezes, adequate shading and natural ventilation, shades and awnings, proper insulation and windows, landscaping, etc.

See: Cooling for New Homes

Cooling breezes

If your cooling needs are significant, design your home to benefit from lower night-time temperatures and to allow air movement to cool your home. Ventilation is a key element in natural cooling.

See: Natural Ventilation

Reducing external heat gains

Shade and high levels of wall and ceiling insulation, or construction materials with an adequate thermal mass are key elements to reduce or eliminate external heat gains.

See: Reducing External Heat Gains

Orientation

Home orientation for exposure to breezes may collide with sun exposure (or sun protection) principles. But there are means to overcome that conflict, namely the deflection of breezes.

Floor plan

A proper floor plan is crucial to get zone cooling and heating (different rooms with different temperatures), and also to get more comfort for daytime activities and sleeping. The home layout is also important to reduce barriers to air paths (important for cooling breezes) through the home, and to maximize the ventilation effects.

See: Floor Plan for Cooling

Fans

Fans are important cooling devices in many climates. They provide ventilation and air movement at a fraction of price, when breezes are inconvenient (or in their absence).

See:
Fans Usage
Ceiling Fans Basics
Window Fans for Cross Ventilation
Fans and Cooling

Vents, clerestory windows, solar chimneys

Home design should consider paths for colder air to enter the building, but also to allow warm air to exit it… And to fulfill this last goal, low and high vents and vented ridges, clerestory windows, spinnaway roof ventilators, solar chimneys and other convective methods are the answer. They allow heat to exit the home (through the chimney effect).

Windows and Glazing

Proper sized windows (and doors), with an appropriate glass is crucial to avoid unwanted heat gains and/or to maximize ventilation.

See: Cooling and Windows

Shade

Effective shade (given by trees, shrubs, ground covers, patios with vegetation or devices like pergolas, trellises…) will cool the home’s walls and ceiling, reducing potential infiltration and the home’s cooling needs.

See: Cooling and Shade

Insulation

In many climates, high levels of insulation will minimize the cooling needs.

See:
Air conditioning for Hot Climates
Cooling for cold and temperate climates

Roof and wall colors

To help reduce heat gains, use light colors on roofs and walls. Light colors will reflect more solar radiation.