Robin Boles

Summer has arrived! The kids are out of school, the River Falls splash pad and pool are open, and backyard barbecues are in full swing. While we enjoy these longer, sun-filled days, summer also means higher temperatures and, over the past decade, the higher temperatures have become extreme. 

According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the last 10 years have been the hottest on record of the 175 years of recorded global temperatures. But we don’t need the history books to tell us it’s getting hotter; we can feel it. We’ve already experienced temperatures over 90 degrees this year, and we’re just getting started.

As the days get hotter, the temptation to turn up the AC is understandable, but with a little effort and planning, we can dial back our AC use and save some money at the same time.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), interior space cooling accounts for over 16.5% of electricity draw in American homes, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that air conditioning accounts for approximately 3.2% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. These numbers are significant, and they will continue to increase as temperatures continue to rise.

In the US, we’re ahead of the AC curve; over the next several years, air conditioning will become more available for those in less developed and extremely hot regions of the world, and they will take advantage of its relief. The IEA projects an increase from 2 billion to 5.5 billion AC units worldwide by 2050.

Don’t get me wrong. I know there are benefits to air conditioning. There are people who need it. For those who are unable to regulate their body temperature, whatever the reason – age, illness, injury, or even geographic location — air conditioning can be a literal lifesaver. I am not a big fan, however, of air conditioning as a standard practice for comfort. 

Personally, I find that air-conditioned environments are often too cold, making me feel the heat more intensely when I step outside. It doesn’t feel good to shift back and forth between extreme temperatures in this way. How does this affect our bodies’ natural capacity to self-regulate when we continue to subject them to such extremes?

People generally express shock and concern when they learn that I don’t have AC in my home. Their alarm is not without warrant; extreme heat kills more people in the US than any other weather-related cause. But we have found many ways to keep cool when the temperature rises that don’t include plugging in the AC

Unless it doesn’t cool down at night, indoor temperatures can often be managed by simply opening and closing windows at the right time. In our house, we call it “bottling up the cold.” We open all the windows after the sun sets to pull in the fresh night air to cool down the house. In the morning, we close everything back up, bottling up the cold air from the night before and using it to keep the house cool throughout the day.

We also close curtains or shades where the direct sun might shine in. Blocking the direct sunlight from heating up the surfaces in a room helps keep the whole house cooler.

Plus, I enjoy the feeling of a cool, darkened house on a sweltering summer day. It brings back memories of my grandparents’ home in the late summer, the light muted to a soft blue by their curtains drawn against the hot afternoon sun: a cool buffer against the brutality of the dense August heat. But, if you’re not partial to this subdued mood, you can apply a solar film to your windows that still lets in the light while blocking out the heat of the sun.

It only takes a few minutes and a little effort to keep the house cool enough for comfort without AC – and at a fraction of the cost, which can be significant. The Center for Energy Poverty and Climate estimates that the average American family spends 66% more on cooling today than it did 10 years ago and that their energy bill will increase approximately 8% during this cooling season. 

In our home, we also use fans to keep the air moving. While this doesn’t actually cool things down, it does help it feel cooler. The gentle breeze across my damp skin helps to evaporate the sweat that my body’s natural cooling system produces in response to the heat. 

Finally, we avoid using appliances that generate heat as much as possible. Oven-cooked meals can be enjoyed all winter long. To keep the heat out in the summer, we take our cooking outside, like grilling on the BBQ, cooking over a fire, or preparing something in a crockpot on the porch.

Small changes add up. By cutting back on air conditioning and adopting simple habits like using fans, closing blinds during the hottest part of the day, and minimizing your use of heat-generating appliances, you can significantly reduce your energy costs and your impact on the environment. These actions not only help lower greenhouse gas emissions, they build long-term habits that make your home more energy-efficient, resilient and aligned with a more sustainable future. It's a win for both the planet and your wallet.