Sunsaver, Livining Off-Grid In Suburbia- Happy Taconight America!

[Denim Deb]

When I was a kid, we had no AC. And, it would get hot and humid! I can remember wearing my Dad's T-shirts to bed and wiping down my face, arms, etc, then going to bed w/them dripping wet.

 

[baymule]

Sunsaver, I have lived several times without air conditioning. Get a spray bottle and mist the bedsheets. Turn on a brisk fan and go to bed. The evaporating water with the fan blowing across is will let you have a good, cool, night's sleep.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Used to ... when we lived in an apartment that had no A/C, my kid and I would get in the bathtub with our swimsuits on and a few inches of cool water. We'd read books, or whatever.

Now I just wet myself down and get in bed. The sheets and such gets wet but it cools me down. Also run a fan on me. Sometimes I keep a bowl of water and washcloth beside my side of the bed to wet myself down.

I hate running the a/c in this house but I do sometimes.

 

[sunsaver]

Thanks for the tips! I usually just wet my hair and put on a wet t-shirt. If i had enough solar panels, i would be running my window unit.

 

[luvinlife offthegrid]

Hi there! What's your window cover situation? It gets hot and humid here in the summer. I have drapes/curtains with the white backing that faces out. Before I leave I the morning, I close all windows and close curtains. The place is DARK all day. Upstairs I have room darkening sheer curtains, but they don't work as well as the white backed insulated curtains. When I get home, It's always much cooler in the house. A few weeks ago it was 95 and very humid outside, but in my house the thermometer was reading 75. It was almost as good as having AC. Plus, I don't have AC at work, so It's not as big a transition for me.

It's also much cooler downstairs than up for two reasons.

1. The porch roof shades the first several hours of sun for the say. The porch roof faces east.

2. The huge oaks I have near the house shade the sun for another little while.

When the sun wraps around to the south side of the house, the shade situation disappears, and HELLO HOT UPSTAIRS! Even with the curtains closed. Yuck. At least the downstairs stays cool. :/ Once the temperature changes and the breeze picks up in the early evening we open everything up again.

Not sure of your setup, but how well unsulated is your place? Could you plant/do you have shade trees/shrubs on your south side? (Not near the solar panels of course!)

I have a stupid question. I have lived in winter wonderland all my life- do deciduous trees drop their leaves in the winter where you are? If so, if you have the space, plant some deciduous trees that grow quickly to help shade where the sun beats on your house.

Also- on the hot days, what does the temperature drop to at night?

 

[sunsaver]

Hey LLOTG, my ancient farm house has no insulation at all. If you look back in my journal, theres the story of how i had it moved into a vacant lot in a subdivision out side of town. There's a huge pine tree with a four foot diameter trunk thats just outside my window. It shades the entire east and south parts of my roof. The west and northwest sides of my house are tall pine woods that completely shade the rest of the roof.
My solar panels are out in the sun garden. The entire property was middle age pine forest, full of wild grapes, mulberry trees, and wild black cherry. There's passion fruit vines and huge greenbriar vines that climb the pines. I only cleared out just enough of the woods to squeeze my little house in. It's a small neighborhood which is surround by pine woods. It's sort of hilly here, much like east Texas.
I also have very tall and large gum trees and several young silver leaf maple trees. The branches are great for smoking. I'm really glad that i decided to preserve the environment instead of clear cutting. There's more diversity of insect and animal life in my forest garden than i would have expected. It's also about 10*F cooler here than in the city. I leave my windows open all night, and close them during the day. I'm usually in the garden all day, and only come in at dark. Yesterday it was 103*F. Right now its 72*F and breezy. We just had 3 inches of rain since 7am. We needed it badly, even more so over in Texas. I'll have to keep an eye on my solar batteries. It's completely overcast and drizzling rain. SD could probably relate to this type of weather. We only get this when there's a hurricane down in the Gulf. I feel sorry for those who are getting hit, but this rain is a blessing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

[savingdogs]

SDs weather prayer.....
May all this rain and chilly weather drift over to the dry parched areas and drizzle itself out AWAY from me. We have been extremely blessed by all this natural resource and it is someone elses' turn.
thank you Lord for your attention to this small matter!
Amen

 

[luvinlife offthegrid]

Sounds like you have a great piece of property, I love all the trees! Keeping it wooded must help with the heat! When I drive into town with all that pavement, it's a good 10 degrees hotter than where I am in the woods. Just can't beat it.

It's good that you're getting rain... and 72 must feel chilly!

 

[sunsaver]

Yeah it feels reel good. I think SD's prayer did the trick. Thanks SD! Now i'm going to slice up a cuke and a tomato, and have a big ol' salad!

 

[Denim Deb]

Now I just wet myself down and get in bed.

OK, I need to read slower. I just read this as Now I just WET MYSELF and get into bed!