How to STAY COOL Living OFF GRID in the Desert (No A.C.) 🏜️

I detail how we've been staying cool off the grid in the extreme summer heat of the desert! We're currently living off-grid in this remote cabin (no air conditioning or running water) in New Mexico.

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[ccrbonline]

Build a large cover over that house that extends way beyond the perimeter of the house. Set it up as a water catchment system and the cover will also absorb a lot of the heat that's currently directly hitting the house.

[sjfiet]

I've learned a lot while studying Victorian homes. I have noted things they did that helped keep their homes cool in summer. They did the following. 1. Tall ceilings so heat had a place to rise. 2. Large windows for maximum air movement. 3. They used awnings on the outside of the house over the windows to prevent direct sun from entering the rooms and also allowed the air to flow. 4. One style of Victorian home had a central stairwell with a belvedere at the top. This is a raised "room" at the top of the stairs which sits higher than the roof with windows on all sides. It's a tower of sorts. The windows could be opened which would act thermodynamically to draw the hot air out and cooler air in. It took advantage of the nature of hot air to rise. 5.The brick houses also had very thick walls consisting of two or more layers of brick and sometimes stone. These are very well insulated.

[sethlangston]

In dry climates, you can stay cool as long as you're in the shade. In humid climates, the heat makes living disgusting even with shade.

[cherylcarr]

When I lived in Australia and had 40 degree Celsius days, we would hang woollen blankets over the outside of the windows. The woollen blankets would stop the heat hitting the glass and radiating through.

[liamalepta]

Being born and raised in Phoenix Arizona, i know this method well. get several of those Mexican wool blankets, then soak them with water, hang each blanket in door ways, the front door and the back door, breezes would cause an evaporative cooler type effect.

[collinolguin]

Appreciate all the tips if I could give one I’d recommend buying three large poles possibly old telephone poles and stretching a triangle shade tarp over y’all’s house

[bezoar]

Lived in Tucson for 25 years; +1 on the swamp cooler idea when dew point is < 55°. But the simplest tip I learned is from scuba diving: water removes heat from your body 25x faster than air. That's why even with a wetsuit in tropical waters it can leave you shivering after a 50-minute dive. Desert translation: sit in the shade and soak your feet in a bucket of tepid water for 20 minutes. Sucks the heat right out of your body.

[JamesinCalifornia]

I'm out in the Mojave desert living off grid and I converted a small swamp cooler over to DC power. Both the fan and water pump are now DC... so I run it off my solar and battery bank setup. It's made such a huge difference in my life.

[calholli]

What's even better than dark curtains is to put up wood shutters on the outside.. because with the curtain: the sun still shines through the window and heats up the back of the curtain-- which is still inside your room.. but with a wood shutter, it is absorbing/ blocking the suns heat and keeping it outside. This actually makes a big difference in direct sunlight.

[jamesmatheson]

A century and a half ago in the Australian desert, houses use to use vines growing over the house to help cool it, you can do the same useing a light frame and 90% blockout shade clothe, houses use to have enclosed eaves on the house, smart people put vents into the eaves on the non sunny side, America would be the Northern side with a vent at the top of the roof or as close, olden days they had vents built into the Gable End, so cool air could enter the Eave, and exit from the higher vent, this regulated the temperature inside the roof.

[tedbus]

Covering windows from the Outside during the direct sun part of day is more proactive than curtains on inside.
Hanging a wet blanket in the open window or door creates natural air conditioning..also, covering the uncovered porch will keep the rest of house cool.

[bruceallen]

Another trick. Keep a bucket of clean wet towels handy. A wet towel around your neck helps a lot to make you feel cooler.

[hellzmyst]

Cover the open windows with a thin white cloth (flat sheets). Then, spray with water and lemon. When the wind blows throw, it gets cooled. Survived a summer in Tucson without electric this way.

[dorcasowens]

I live in Texas. It has been 106 degrees mid day for several days. I made window coverings out of reflectix. They have it at Home Depot in rolls 48" wide and 50ft long. I cut it so it fits snug in the window frame and covered them with nice fabric. It really makes a huge difference. In my living area I checked the temperature mid day without the covers. It was 89 degrees. With the window covers it was 75 degrees. Well worth the money. I do have A/C but it doesn't cycle on as much. Thankful!

[Lizarddqueen]

I live in AZ and agree that the dry heat is much nicer than the humidity and heat of the south.

[richardprotsman]

I have seen a lot of great ideas on here. I haven’t seen one that we use when I was a kid. Get some cardboard from your local grocery store. Get some cheap aluminum foil from the dollar tree. Cut the cardboard to fit your window then spray glue the aluminum foil to the cardboard. It will reflect the light to reduce the temperature in the house

[noah]

Consider getting an evaporative cooler, aka swamp cooler They don’t really work in humid environments but in dry climates they’re great. Don’t take much power and will add some moisture to the air.

[thehomesteadingminimalist]

I made my own curtains. I sewed batting into the fabric. The same stuff you use in quilts. It helps with heat, light, and the cold. I am living in my fifth wheel full time with my family of four for fiv years now.

[sheilacollins]

This was my solution in a hot upper flat while 8 mos pregnant: shower in a bathing suit, getting my long hair completely wet. Remained in wet suit as I did household tasks. Kept a fan on too, but with soaked skin and hair was generally good. I called it my "personal swamp cooler".

[DadMoves]

I own a van permanently parked on my land in the Mojave Desert. I love all of these ways people have actually stayed cool without using large power draws. I use 20-40 watt fan inside the van or sit outside in shade if there is any breeze. Also, simply running water over your head and letting it run over your body uses only several ounces of water and allows air to cool body temps. If you have enough solar to run a freezer, cold gel packs are AMAZING!