Here are some ways to keep your home cool without air conditioning. First we will look at ways to cool an existing, traditional home.

One of the best ways to keep a home cool without air conditioning is to install a whole house fan. These work best in the late evening and at night. They move air in through windows and up and out of the attic. They help keep both the inside of your home cooler and reduce radiant heat from coming in through the ceiling because they make the attic cooler. The work best in areas roughly north of Dallas, in terms of latitude and areas where the nighttime temperatures are very cool, such as high altitudes.

A swamp cooler or evaporative cooler works well in many areas where the humidity level is low. They are much more economical than air conditioning although they do consume a fair amount of water in the summer. Swamp coolers help cool the home without air conditioning through evaporative cooling and the only energy used is by the fan and small pump.

Ceiling fans are another good way. Remember that ceiling fans only cool you, not the room, so turn them off when your leave our use an infrared sensor to turn them on when you enter the room. Such sensors are available at Smarthome.com

If you cannot afford a whole house fan, use cheap box fans in the windows of the home. Place a couple box fans on the side of the home that the breeze usually comes from and face them inward.

When keeping your home cool without air conditioning try to dress cooler. Wear short sleeve shirts and shorts and you will feel better. Think of it as a tropical vacation at home and have lots of cool drinks on hand.

Shading The Windows

Solar screens are an important part of keeping a home cool without air conditioning. The prevent up to eighty percent of radiant solar heat from entering the home. See your yellow pages for solar screen installers. Solar screens typically cost about $60 per single window.

Also consider installing retractable awnings over large glass windows. This is especially effective on south and west facing windows.

Use Cool Colors

Back before air conditioning you never saw anything but a light colored house in the south. There was a reason for this besides cheap white paint. Light colored paint does not absorb as much solar energy and your home will stay much cooler. If you don't believe me, use a spot thermometer and shoot it at a dark colored part of the same wall vs. a part painted bright white. The difference in temperature will amaze you.

Plant Trees

Plant fast growing trees on the south and west sides of your home. This will help shade the home and keep it much cooler. Choose tree varieties that are hardy for your area and avoid those whose limbs break easily like Chinaberry and Hackberry.

New Construction

If you are building a new home invest a couple of thousand more in insulation, radiant barrier attic insulation, solar attic fans, low E windows, planting trees, a whole house fan and a high efficiency air conditioner with a SEER rating over 15 for when you absolutely need it.

There are alternative construction methods such as Insulated Concrete Form or ICF, cement coated straw bale construction, adobe and others that will make your home much more energy efficient. Thermal mass walls help regulate the inside temperature of the home. With such a home you may find ceiling fans enough to keep it cool, even in summer.

For more ideas on how to save energy at home see Savegreenly