Everyone is talking about the heat. It’s nearly mid October, and the temperature is still in the upper 80s. We had hoped for a respite with cooler fall temperatures. Is climate change to blame? Or has the change in construction of our homes also affected the way in which we live?
These so-called modern homes, many of which are all electric, seem built on the premise that the outside air is not good for us. The power companies keep us cool—for a price that has an averse effect on our living expenses and, more importantly, on the environment. Our homes appear hermetically sealed. Our windows rarely open. Furthermore, features that could keep the house cooler have been removed. Our shutters do not close but are nailed on the façade for decorative purposes. Our shade trees and natural vegetation have been plowed under to develop communities with names like Castle Gardens, Monastic Oaks, the Cloisters or Caribbean Isles, all evocative of grandeur, meditation, peaceful settings or tropical breezes. Many of these new neighborhoods have replaced what has been termed the Florida cracker house.
Basically these cracker houses had roofs that facilitated air circulation. The wide verandas and overhangs provided shade and prevented the rain from blowing in. High ceilings with fans and cross ventilation kept the house at a reasonable temperature much of the day. Often shutters remained partially closed to retain the cooler morning air.
Home construction has not reflected what we know about climate change. Instead of reverting to the more traditional cracker homes, in the last 20 years many builders have constructed what Mom terms the “bonnet house” (also known as the McMansion) because the roof resembles a large hat placed over the walls. The main point is that most of these homes are hermetically sealed and exhibit few features that would make them comfortable without air conditioning.
We have reasons to modify our lifestyle and, if possible, our residences to address the depletion of natural resources and climate change. And traditional construction with open windows and wrap-around porches (and sometimes sleeping porches) also provided the possibility of communing with nature—to hear wind or rain in the trees, or even nocturnal animals. Those older homes with the wide front porches also offered yet another advantage—a chance to socialize those hot summer evenings. I have memories of sitting on a swing at my grandparents’ house in Culpeper,Va., where neighbors with their dogs would stop for a drink and the news.
Living for years in a modern, all-electric house has made me almost forget the pleasure in sitting outside or letting in fresh air. Although my windows are difficult to open, I do have a wonderful back porch on which I spent much of my days. The mornings are cool, and in the evenings, the breeze is delightful. And when the neighborhood air conditioning compressors are not running, I can hear the night sounds too.
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