How do you keep a house cool in summer without air conditioning?

T
Teresa Roper
Updated: Oct. 15, 2021

We built a small cabin with a loft. The floors and ceiling are well insulated at R-40 and R-60  We are off grid, and have a well and hand filled cistern  

The problem is the walls are 4 inch hardwood (R-2?). We have a woodstove that can heat the whole place, and overheat it if your not careful. so even when we went ther when it was -30 we can keep it toasty warm. We cannot however, keep it from becoming horrendously hot in summer. And although we have planted my trees for shade it will be 10-15 years before they help. How can we keep it cooler in summer? 

Responses (1)