How Did Our Ancestors Keep Cool in the Summer?

In the hot summer heat, it is hard to imagine life without your trusty air conditioning unit. In fact, heating and cooling account for about 48% of the energy use in the typical U.S. home. But considering that air conditioning services have only been widely available since the 1970s, this new technology is only a very recent invention of modern times.

Yet for a generation raised on air conditioning, it can be hard to imagine life without it. So what did our ancestors do to stay cool in the sweltering summer heat? Were they just miserable all summer long? Is that way cavemen lived in caves?

Here are some time-tested techniques our ancestors used to keep the heat at bay.

1. They lived underground

In fact, yes, that is partly why our cave-dwelling ancestors lived below ground. The idea behind this was pretty straightforward, if someone couldn’t get relief above ground, then they went underground in order to get some relief.

Building underground caves kept temperatures at a cool 50 degrees Fahrenheit both in the summer and winter. Many early civilizations also built homes under the earth as well. These homes weren’t just pits dug into the ground; they were split-level homes built into hillsides with spacious basements that stayed much cooler than the rest of the home.

2. They used thick stones

Stones like adobe and brick are harder to heat, so they are able to keep cool air in. Many homes were built out of brick in the 1700s and 1800s to combat the heat, as these heavier materials were known to be drafty and cool.

3. Planting trees

This was the easiest way to combat the summer heat while having built in shade. All the homeowners had to do was to plant large trees on the east and west sides of the home to block the summer sun before it has the chance to warm the home’s interior. These trees also cooled down the breezes before they entered the porch area.

4. Build homes with high ceilings

Skilled workers would build homes and buildings with high ceilings to take advantage of rising heat in the summer time. They would loft the ceilings so the warm air would stay away from the people below, and homeowners would utilize fans to pull warm air up during the summer while pushing warm air down during the winter.

Even though our ancestors were quite creative in dealing without air conditioning units, being hot in the summer time is something we don’t have to deal with anymore. Thanks to the abundance of heating and cooling services, you can keep your home at room temperature year round. Just make sure you invest in quality air conditioning repair with Randall’s Heating, that way you don’t have to take measures into your own hands!