I live in Texas and if there’s one thing Texas summers are known for, it’s the heat. Most people don’t like it so hot, so the natural thing to do—well, really the unnatural thing to do—is to flip on the air conditioning. If it’s over 80, the air comes on and keeps your abode nice and cool at 72 degrees. Well, comfort has its costs and if you don’t feel like prancing around your house like a Nelly music video, there’s only so much you can do.

Cooling a small place in the middle of summer can run you $150-300 a month. That’s not chump change, especially when you consider that the middle of summer in Texas spans six months (yes, everything is bigger in Texas, including the seasons). So, I assume, most of my neighbors spend anywhere from $1,200 to $5,000 a year running the AC!

I’m a little different than most people. I actually like heat. That is, after all, one of the reasons I moved to Texas from California where it’s FREEZING! But even I have my limits. I can’t really see myself doing work in 100+ degree heat and keeping many of my brain cells intact. But I also don’t like the idea of spending so much money fighting one of the reasons I am where I am.

Luckily, I’ve figured out a way to keep a temperate climate inside without running the AC.

The thing many people don’t realize is that keeping a house closed up all day fails to take advantage of half of the day when temperatures aren’t 105 degrees. The middle of the night (even in Texas) is generally fairly nice (mid-70s). So my windows and doors are open at night with fans blowing that air in. In the morning, temps inside and out rise. When the temperature outside matches that of the inside, I close all the doors and windows. If you have good doors and windows with insulation, this technique can keep indoor temps relatively stable. My condo goes from 82 to 88 over the course of the day as outdoor temps peak at 103.

If it gets above 90 in my place, I employ the natural air conditioners our hunter/gatherer ancestors loved (the wet T-shirt contest), and bask in my comfortable, natural living space. If that doesn’t work to bring a smile to my face, I just glance at my $20 electric bill.

For more tips , check out: “How to Take Advantage of the People Who Are Trying to Take Advantage of You“