🔥☀️HOW WILL YOU BE KEEPING COOL?!☀️🔥
-

#KeepingCool
#KeepingSafe
#HeatWave
#HotWeather
#Birmingham
#BirminghamUK
#Bromsgrove
#B31Voices #BVoices
#B31VoicesSupportingLocal

How to Keep Beverages Cool Outside the Refrigerator

April 25, 2012

"In the industrialized world, we know only of one way to cool beverages: place containers in refrigerators. This practice, which occurs on a massive scale, is utterly dependent on fossil fuels.

"However, people obtained the same result much more #sustainably before the advent of the Industrial Revolution. In hot, dry climates, we used porous earthenware jugs that were not only re-usable, but also kept water cool by taking advantage of natural energy sources.

"The best known example is the Spanish ‘#botijo’, an unglazed ceramic container that cools beverages by evaporation. Similar drinking containers can be found in other Mediterranean countries, as well as in Mexico (where it is known as a ‘#búcaro’) and on the Indian subcontinent (where it is called a ‘#ghara’, ‘#matka’ or ‘#suhari’).

"The ceramic water cooler probably originated in the Indus Valley Civilization, which would make it 5000 years old."

Read more:
https://www.notechmagazine.com/2012/04/botijos.html

#SolarPunkSunday #KeepingCool #LowTech #NoTech #AncientTechnology

Natural cooling methods in #Morocco

October 27, 2024

"Morocco’s hot and dry climate makes it hard to keep homes cool. But, the country’s #TraditionalArchitecture has found clever ways to beat the heat. Using the environment, Moroccan builders have created natural cooling methods.

"They use things like porous [clay] jars and #mashrabiyas. These techniques keep homes cool without needing #AirConditioning.

Key Takeaways

- Moroccan architecture uses passive cooling like thermal mass design, shading, and ventilation.
- Evaporative cooling systems like porous jars and mashrabiyas cool homes by evaporation.
- Features like wind catchers, courtyards, and underground irrigation help cool naturally.
- Modern projects are using these old methods in new buildings for #sustainable cooling.
- Moroccan cooling methods show a deep understanding of the local climate and a focus on comfort and well-being.

Traditional Moroccan Architecture:

"Moroccan architecture shows the clever use of #nature to make homes comfortable. At its core are the riads, traditional Moroccan houses. These houses have thick walls of clay or stone that keep the inside cool, even when it’s very hot outside.

#Riads and #Courtyards

The central courtyard, often with a #garden or fountain, acts as a natural air conditioner. In Fez, where it can get up to 104°F (40°C) in July, this design makes air conditioning unnecessary. The thick walls and central courtyard work together to keep the inside cool.

Khettaras and Fountains

"Traditional Moroccan architecture also uses advanced irrigation systems called khettaras. These systems bring water from the mountains to the cities. This water is used for cooling fountains and pools, lowering the temperature through evaporation.

"The sound of water and greenery in these courtyards make a peaceful and cool atmosphere. This adds to the natural cooling effect.

"The architecture in Morocco showcases a sustainable and cost-effective model for contemporary buildings, emphasizing the effectiveness of design and natural materials over reliance on air conditioning.'

"The traditional Moroccan building methods teach us about sustainable design. They use local, natural materials and work with the environment. This is a valuable lesson for modern architecture around the world."

Read more:
https://moroccandiaspora.com/natural-cooling-methods-in-morocco/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/0OMUu

#SolarPunkSunday #heatwave #Heatwaves #KeepingCool #TraditionalDesign #MoroccanArchitecture #TraditionalArchitecture

How #Paris's #SeineRiver keeps the #Louvre cool in summer

Delphine PAYSANT
Wed, June 18, 2025

"As Paris braces for a #heatwave this weekend, a little-known network of underground pipes will be cooling the Louvre museum and other storied landmarks using water from the Seine river.

"Since 1991, the river water has been cooling more than 800 buildings via a humble but hard-working system that is still relatively under-utilised worldwide.

"Paris boasts the largest such urban cooling network in Europe: 110 kilometres (68 miles) of subterranean pipes criss-crossing the City of Light, reducing its need for energy-guzzling air conditioning.

" 'It's like 'Batman'!' exclaimed a passer-by in the chic and touristy eighth arrondissement or district of Paris, as a manhole cover was removed to reveal a spiral staircase to the cooling network below.

"The technology is not new: the headquarters of the United Nations in New York has been using water from the East River for cooling since the 1950s.

"But much planning and construction is necessary and as such, these efficient and #sustainable cooling systems remain relatively rare.

"But in Paris, the network has grown considerably in recent years to confront more intense and frequent #heatwaves, with the first of the summer forecast this coming weekend.

"The process works much the same as a district heating network, but in reverse: heat is transferred from the air to chilled water pumped via pipes to buildings around the city.

"But unlike conventional #AirConditioning, it does not blast hot air into the streets, according to Fraicheur de Paris, which manages the Seine cooling network and others in #Barcelona, #Singapore and #Dubai.

"The company, co-owned by the French energy utility Engie, says it also offers significant savings in electricity consumption, chemical use and emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide.

"Heatwaves could push summer temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) by 2050 in Paris, said Raphaelle Nayral, secretary general of Fraicheur de Paris.

"The city needs a more sustainable solution than air conditioning units with their associated heat and energy burden, she added."

Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pariss-seine-river-keeps-louvre-102539210.html

#SolarPunkSunday #KeepingCool #ClimateChange #ClimateChangeSolutions

So, a beverage I find refreshing when the weather is hot is cold #HibiscusTea. It was originally used in Africa, and its use spread around the world. Not sure about using garlic, but a ginger-spice-fruit version of #Zobo sounds refreshing!

Wikipedia: "Zobo is a local beverage drink in Nigeria. It is made from dried hibiscus leaf and other ingredients. The drink is commonly sold in restaurants and on roadsides."

Overview

"Hibiscus drink is made by boiling the hibiscus leaf alongside ginger, garlic for less than an hour. It is served hot or chilled depending on the weathered condition of the area it was produced. Other ingredients used in making zobo drink include nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, lime, pineapple and artificial colours. The particles are sieved leaving behind the zobo juice. The roselle drink has flavour similar to cranberry juice and it is ruby red in colour."

How to Make Zobo Drink

November 23, 2024 by Florence Akpotaire

https://verayea.com/how-to-make-zobo-drink/

#SolarPunkSunday #KeepingCool
#Heatwaves #AfricanBeverages #KeepingHydrated

One of Europe’s Hottest Cities Rediscovers an Old Cooling Technique

By Laura Millan
August 8, 2023

"The streets of #Seville in southern #Spain were so hot that July afternoon that it felt almost impossible to walk outdoors. As temperatures approached 42C (108F), people scrambled to find shelter in air-conditioned homes, offices and public buildings. Yet, less than two miles from the city center, a cool breeze blew under a giant white roof.

"The structure is a part of CartujaQanat, an architectural experiment in cooling solutions that doesn’t rely on burning more planet-warming #FossilFuels. The site, about the size of two soccer fields, includes two auditoriums, green spaces, a promenade and a shaded area with benches. But its star performer remains hidden — the qanat, a network of underground pipes and tubes inspired by Persian-era canals.

"The grid of #aqueducts can lower surrounding temperatures by as much as 10C using just air, water and #solar power, according to Emasesa, the Seville public water company that helped to build it. The system is modeled on ancient tunnels dug to bring water to agricultural fields that were first documented in what is today #Iran. The Persians realized 1,000 years ago that the running water also cooled the air in the canals, so they fashioned vertical shafts to bring that air to the surface.

" 'This is not an air-conditioning system like the one you may have in your home,' says Juan Luis López, the project’s supervisor and an engineer at Emasesa. 'We use natural techniques and materials to reduce temperatures.' "

Read more:
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-seville-spain-extreme-heat/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/36fz1

#SolarPunkSunday #History #PersianTechnology #ClimateChange #KeepingCool #ExtremeHeat #AncientTechnology

Another article about #Switchel I found...

Make Your Own Refreshing Summertime Drink

by Catherine Boeckmann
April 4, 2024

"Switchel, also known as Haymaker’s Punch, is a refreshing drink with apple cider vinegar. It was how colonial farmers quenched their thirst in the hot, sunbaked fields—which is enough of an endorsement for me!

"Switchel, a refreshing and ancient beverage, combines the goodness of ginger, apple cider vinegar, and sweeteners like molasses and maple syrup. Known for its hydrating properties, this tangy elixir boasts a unique flavor profile, making it a wholesome and natural alternative to sugary drinks. Enjoyed for centuries, switchel is a timeless, revitalizing choice.

This drink is also called Haymaker’s Punch because it was often drunk while haying—which is hard work under the hot summer sun!"

https://www.almanac.com/switchel-recipe-haymakers-punch

#SolarPunkSunday #LowTech #KeepingCool #KeepingHydrated
#HeatWave #History #Histodon #HistoricalRecipes #ThirstQuenching

How To Make Traditional #Switchel (Haymaker’s Punch)

Written by Author Tracey Besemer Published on September 2, 2019

Excerpt: "Switchel is an old fashioned sweet-sour-spice drink.

"Where switchel originated is still debated. New England, the Caribean, China? No one knows for certain where it came from.

"What is certain is this popular 17th-century drink helped the colonials beat the heat. Think Plymouth Rock Gatorade in a stone jug, minus the red dye #40.

"Its popularity continued among hard-working farmers in the summer when they were out haying, giving switchel the name haymaker’s punch.

"And today with all of the sports and energy drinks available, you won’t find a more refreshing drink for a hot and humid day when you’ve been busting your backside out in the sun.

"Or for sitting on the back porch under a patio umbrella watching someone else work in the sun.

"Switchel was made with ginger, a splash of tart apple cider vinegar and something sweet like molasses, maple syrup, or honey. The ginger made it easier on your stomach to drink a lot of cold liquid all at once. The apple cider vinegar cut through your thirst and left you smacking your lips, satisfied, and ready to get back to work.

"Switchel kept you hydrated and replenished your electrolytes long before we knew enough to be concerned about depleted electrolytes."

Read more (includes recipe and instructions):
https://www.ruralsprout.com/switchel/

#SolarPunkSunday #LowTech #KeepingCool #KeepingHydrated #HeatWave #History #Histodon #HistoricalRecipes #ThirstQuenching