Old Ideas Lead To New Thinking About Comfort In Homes & Buildings - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights how traditional, passive cooling techniques are being rediscovered and adapted to improve comfort in homes and buildings amid rising summer temperatures. It draws on historical practices, such as those used in Spain and Persia, where thick stone walls, awnings, and qanat systems—ancient underground water channels that cool air flowing through buildings—help maintain indoor comfort without relying on modern air conditioning. For example, in Seville, these methods keep indoor temperatures significantly lower than the outdoor heat, and similar principles are applied in hospitals using updated cooling technologies. Additionally, the article notes cultural adaptations like the revival of the siesta in Spain and government regulations mandating heat-related work breaks, emphasizing the need for humans to adapt to climate change rather than expecting the environment to adjust. It also references expert Lloyd Alter’s discussion on the importance of mean radiative temperature—the average temperature of surrounding surfaces radiating heat—as a critical factor in thermal comfort. Alter advocates for revisiting ancestral methods that effectively manage