Beatrice Lang
Before the invention of air conditioning in 1902, people had to be creative when trying to stay cool. Some methods people used to keep cool included planting trees to shade their homes, building thick-walled homes, sleeping outdoors, and drinking cold beverages. In the 1880s and 1890s, impresarios experimented with ventilation schemes that used electric fans to bring in outside air and pass it over ice-filled vaults. People also took advantage of natural sources of cool air, such as water fountains and caves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Staying hydrated | Drinking fluids, especially interesting drinks as water was considered boring |
| Diet | Consuming foods with a "cool" taaseer (a cold effect) like melons |
| Architecture | Thick walls, high ceilings, deep eaves, and porches |
| Building Orientation | Windows oriented to catch the breeze |
| Vegetation | Planting trees on the east and west sides of a house for additional shade |
| Ventilation | Using large cloth fans, keeping windows and doors open |
| Socializing | Spending time on porches, especially after supper |
| Clothing | Using wet laundry as a swamp cooler |
| Lifestyle | Taking naps in grassy areas under trees, avoiding strenuous work during the hottest part of the day |
| Ice | Harvesting and storing ice blocks during winter for use in summer |
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What You'll Learn
Thick walls and high ceilings
The use of local stones or man-made bricks to build thick-walled dwellings was a common practice, with the stone walls acting as great conductors of heat. While it took a long time for these walls to absorb heat, once they did, the energy was retained and radiated for days afterward. This made it possible to stay cool in the summer and also provided a cost-effective way to heat the home during the winter months.
High ceilings were another important feature of pre-electricity homes, allowing heat to rise, leaving cooler air below for the inhabitants. This type of building design benefited from internal air convection. In addition to thick walls and high ceilings, older homes often featured deep eaves and porches that shaded windows from the sun, and it was common to plant trees on the east and west sides of the house for additional shade and to cool down breezes before they reached the house.
The design of these homes, with their thick walls and high ceilings, demonstrates the ingenuity and adaptability of people in the past who had to cope with intense heat without the benefit of modern conveniences like air conditioning.
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Sleeping outdoors
Before the invention of air conditioning in 1902, sleeping outdoors was a common way for people to stay cool. Here are some ways people incorporated sleeping outdoors into their lives:
Roof Terraces
In hot regions, it was not uncommon for people to sleep on roof terraces. Mats and thin mattresses were laid out on the floor or on cots. The temperature could drop significantly after midnight, and early mornings could even be chilly.
Porches
Porches were incredibly important for people to sit outside in the shade and enjoy a breeze. Some older houses were built with sleeping porches, screened-in porches where people could sleep during the summer, enjoying the breeze while being protected from bugs. In New York, people would sleep on fire escapes on hot days.
Public Spaces
Public spaces with shade and a breeze were also used for sleeping outdoors. In big cities, some water fountains were built as large troughs where people could cool off in the summer.
Trees
Trees are found almost everywhere, even in the heart of cities, and they provide plenty of shade. Taking a nap under a tree during the hottest part of the day reduced the threat of dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.
Building Design
Before air conditioning, people considered the design of their homes to help them stay cool. They oriented windows to catch the breeze, and used slatted shutters on the outside to avoid direct sunlight while keeping inner shutters open. They also planted deciduous trees to the east and west of their homes to provide shade during the summer and sunlight during the winter.
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Using ice
Before the advent of electricity, people had to be creative in their attempts to stay cool during hot summers. One popular method was to use ice, which required some planning in the absence of refrigeration. During the winter, people would harvest ice from frozen-over lakes and store it in naturally cool buildings called ice houses. The ice would be kept there until the warmer months when it could be used to cool down.
In the 1880s and 1890s, impresarios experimented with ventilation schemes that used electric fans to bring outside air in, pass it over subterranean vaults filled with ice, and then expel it through floor registers in theatres. This system was used in New York's Star Theatre on Broadway and 13th.
In addition to using ice for cooling indoor spaces, people also found creative ways to incorporate it into their personal cooling methods. Some people would braid ice into their hair, while others would cuddle frozen water bottles.
The use of ice for cooling purposes was not always reliable, however, due to the variability of winter weather. As such, people also relied on other methods to stay cool, such as taking naps in grassy areas under trees, sleeping on porches, or keeping their windows and doors open to promote airflow.
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Porches and trees
Before the invention of electricity, people had to be creative when trying to stay cool. One way to do this was to make use of porches and trees.
Porches were incredibly important in the past, providing a place where people could sit outside in the shade and enjoy a breeze. They were much less stuffy than the rest of the house, and people would often sleep on them during the summer. In the past, it was common for people to spend time outside on their porches after supper, a custom that has now largely disappeared.
The design of houses also played a role in staying cool. In addition to porches, deep eaves were used to protect windows from the sun. Trees were also planted on the east and west sides of houses to provide additional shade. These trees effectively blocked sunlight from hitting the house and cooled down breezes before they reached the house.
In addition to natural shade, people would also create their own shade by hanging wet laundry in doorways, creating a swamp cooler effect. This, along with the shade from trees and porches, helped to reduce the temperature and make the heat more bearable.
People also had to be resourceful in how they cooled down their homes. Before the invention of air conditioning, older homes were built with high ceilings, which allowed heat to rise so that the lower areas remained cooler. Thick walls, made from materials like stone or brick, also helped to maintain stable internal temperatures throughout the year.
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Drinking and eating
Before refrigeration, people harvested and stored ice blocks during winter to use in the summer. They would cut ice from frozen-over lakes and store it in naturally cool buildings called ice houses. Having ice in the summer required planning and was dependent on the winter weather.
People also relied on water fountains, which provided an easy way to cool off. Some fountains in big cities were built as large troughs, allowing people to do more than just take a drink. However, these fountains were often used by multiple people and animals, making them unsanitary and increasing the risk of contracting illnesses.
In addition to drinking water, people would take advantage of the shade provided by trees, napping in grassy areas during the hottest parts of the day. This reduced the risk of dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.
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Frequently asked questions
People used a variety of methods to stay cool before electricity. Some of the methods include:
- Thick walls: Stone walls are great conductors of heat. It takes a while to absorb heat, but once they do, they radiate the heat afterward, keeping the indoors cool.
- Tall ceilings: Tall ceilings allowed heat to rise, letting inhabitants enjoy the cooler space below.
- Deep eaves and porches: These protected windows from the heat of the sun, and people could sit outside in the shade.
- Trees: Deciduous trees were planted to the east and west of houses to provide shade and block sunlight.
Here are some additional methods used by people to beat the heat:
- Wind towers: Structures like the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur served as wind towers, catching the breeze and providing cool air.
- Wet laundry: People hung wet laundry in doorways to create a swamp cooler effect.
- Ice: Before refrigeration, people harvested and stored ice blocks during winter to use in the warmer months.
People often sought out cool places to escape the heat:
- Water fountains: Large troughs in big cities provided an easy way to cool off, and people could submerge their heads to stay comfortable.
- Movie theaters: Even after the invention of air conditioners, they were expensive and mostly found in movie theaters. People flocked to these places to enjoy the artificially cooled air.
- Porches: Porches provided a place to sit outside in the shade and catch a breeze. They became social spaces for friends and family to gather and cool off.
Yes, people employed various personal strategies to stay cool:
- Napping: People took naps under shady trees during the hottest parts of the day to reduce the risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
- Mental attitude: New York's Health Commissioner, Thomas Darlington, advised maintaining a calm and orderly lifestyle, avoiding excitement, and "keeping cool" mentally.
- Fans: People used manual fans operated by foot to cool themselves.
