permaculture

["Charles de Matas" <cdematas@hotmail.com>]

<<Hello all, Kathy in Missouri, new to the list, thanks for the welcome
earlier. I am trying to reduce my "energy footprint" but I turn into wilted
lettuce when it's hot and humid not to mention I get very cranky. I would
like ideas for keeping the house cooler without a/c, given that I can't
afford to install new equipment at the moment, and/or for keeping myself
cool. I work at home. I take many brief cool showers. I've heard of putting
a bowl of ice in front of a fan but haven't tried it.       Thanks, Kathy
> >

Passive cooling systems should certainly be incorported in the design of new 
structures. In structures that are already built and cannot be easily 
modified, you may want to use active methods of cooling.  Passive methods 
also may not provide adequate cooling year round.  Ceiling fans with 
variable speed are one way to provide cooling of the body at fairly low 
cost.  If you can spend more money there are whole house fans that pull air 
from the house into the attic area to create more ventilation.  These are 
still cheaper than air conditioning and more effective than passive methods 
alone.
Charles.

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