[temporallobe]

I’ve lived in Europe (Balkans) and have family there as well. Some of them still don’t have AC but their houses are still pretty cool in the summers because homes there are mostly made with thick clay brick blocks AND they have “roletne” (we have no equivalent in the US, but they are built-in rolling shutters that can completely darken a room), and as long as those are kept closed during the day, the temperature stays tolerable. However, in recent years some have broken down and installed those high-efficiency in-wall units because the temperatures have been higher (at least that is the perception). I literally don’t know anyone over there with central AC and most are surprised to hear that many homes have them in the US.

[thiht]

> we have no equivalent in the US, but they are built-in rolling shutters that can completely darken a room

I'm always amazed the US doesn't have these. It's not exactly "peak" technology (I've had these my whole life) and so freaking useful. Having no AC, they're like the only reason I can keep my apartment cool during the summer. I know it because I didn't have them 2 summers ago and I almost ended up buying an AC. This summer I didn't even use my fan because I could keep my house cool.