COOLING A HOUSE IN HOT WEATHER

Cooling a house in hot weather can be achieved by having vents high on the warm side (south side) and low on the cool side (north side). Vents are used in the Frank Lloyd Wright house Falling WaterFalling Water as shown. A 'free' breeze can be obtained. The warm air is pushed up by the cooler air and goes out through the vents high on the south side. As the air gets warmer it also expands as well as rises, so the vents that are high on the south side should also be larger than those that are low on the cool side.

Geothermal cooling is another cheap way to cool a house. "I can cool your home for 40 a month" according to www.dougrye.com. Geothermal cooling involves pipe buried in the ground . The pipe, filled with antifreeze and water travels in a loop, to bring the heat from the house into the earth. The simplicity of the systems make for low maintenance and last about 50 years.

This inexpensive strategy for cooling is also the popular choice being considered for cooling the London underground railway system. But don't let the fun stop there! Marina Develpments, Ltd has a unique method for low energy cooling. It is their design for 'seawater-chilled ceilings'. The method is used to cool guest rooms in a Southampton, England luxury hotel. Check it out at, www.archrecord.construction.com.