Unique Ways Germans Survive the Summer Without Air Conditioning! 🇩🇪

[@PassportTwo]

What are your favorite ways or best tips for keeping cool in the summertime?? 😃

[@kilsestoffel3690]

Keep windows closed during the day and make sure, the sun doesn't shine into the rooms. Open the windows at night, to let fresh, cool air in. Last year I hung wet towels on my drying rack and let a fan blow the air between them, this lowered the temperature about two degrees (Celsius)

[@raphaelwolff885]

Ich wohne in einer kleinen Wohnung, ich lasse immer die Türen über all offen (außer das Badezimmer xD) und kippe die Fenster oben und unten, damit ich Durchzug habe dann habe ich von oben nach unten oder umgedreht je nach dem wo ein Fenster mehr gekippt ist Durchzug :D Ansonsten Südseite Rolläden unten haben, kurze Sachen tragen, viel Wasser trinken, Ventilator anschalten und schwimmen gehen :D

[@TrangleC]

Not really my favorite way, but I have been desperate enough to resort to filling a large bucket with cold water and just rest my feet in there while sitting on the couch.

[@raphaelwolff885]

Oh and I'm from a town called Aschaffenburg, northern part of bavaria in Unterfranken and we have some of the hottest temperatures in Bavaria :D

[@helgaioannidis9365]

I am German, but I lived in Rome/Italy for 8 years and have now been living on the Greek island of Rhodes for 17 years. Here in Greece we have much longer heat waves, so dealing with the heat well is important. We use the shutters to keep the sun out of the rooms during the day and use fans of all shapes and types in all rooms. We eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (Greek salad with some bread followed by pieces of watermelon is a great lunch when it's 40°C outside), drink lots of water and avoid drinking alcohol during daytime when it's very hot. It's common to nap from 15:00 to 18:00 and go out after 19:00, staying outside until late at night even with young children. Sometimes I fill a bucket with cool water and place it in front of my chair and put my feet and legs inside. When nights are very hot and humid I take a sheet and make it wet and cover with it. Helps a lot!!! One can also hang up in the open windows wet towels or sheets to cool the room down a bit. Living on an island of course having a swim in the sea is very common for cooling down. Locals will go early in the morning and leave at around 10 or go after 4. We avoid the worst heat and sunburns that way. Sometimes we stay at the beach until 11 in the evening. Air conditioning has become more and more popular here in Greece, but it's not considered standard and e.g. my children's schools don't have it.

[@marylacken4016]

If you spend a hot day in a classroom at school, not being allowed to close the shutters or the windows due to covid, sharing the small room with about 26 other persons, you'll be amazed how cool your home feels!

[@Krokostad]

I never had a fan in my life here in Germany, but I always had the luck to live in "cool" appartements or houses. I close the blinds when I go to work at summer, that helps a lot.

[@runnerfive4479]

Yes, same here. I have never felt the need for a fan in Germany. I owned one in LONDON though because the student housing I lived in would not let us open the windows. (You could crack them but there were no blinds and it became really warm inside even if the temperature outside was not that hot.) In Germany, I generally close the blinds when the sun comes from that direction and open the windows in the afternoon. If it gets very warm, I'll use a sheet instead of blanket but that's about it. I have been to the US in the summer twice and got sick both times because it was so freezing cold everywhere! I really found it quite uncomfortable (but also was not used to taking along a sweater in really warm weather because I dod not expect it would be so cold inside). I found the change between the warm outside space and the airconditioned inside space really exhausing, too, so not a fan of air-conditioning!

[@MyriamSchweingruber]

I am spoiled, I live in a 600 year old house with thick walls which is always cool. Mind you, it's quite expensive to heat in winter.

[@Jessisjapanjourney]

I'm from Germany, and the main reason we don't use ACs is the amount of Energy they need. Energy is pretty expensive in Germany and these amounts are also very bad for the Environment (Climate Change) btw. sometimes we put our nightgowns into the freezer to cool them just before we go to bed

[@umukzusgelos4834]

I feel like ACs are or were never really part of a Homes standard equipment, even though by now we pretty much entered the age where almost every new house has Solar Panels, and floor heating and using Earth warmth It´s like no-one even thinks about that, especially not in rural areas

[@liiishh5393]

This! I really appreciate here people avoid using AC massively. That would be a disaster for the environment and others should also try to use it as less as possible.

[@hannofranz7973]

Ok, but you use the energy for heating without thinking about it.

[@Jessisjapanjourney]

@@hannofranz7973 most homes in germany are pretty good insulated and we have high standarts regarding new build or reno project where you have to make sure that everything meets the standarts for insulation. Also the fact that most houses in germany have brick walls or similar makes it possible to keep houses cool in the summer and warm in the Winter since this building style minimizes the head exchange between inside and out

[@panchitoborja]

Naaaah, you like sweating and smelling instead of buying an AC. Glory to the AC ❤❤❤❤❤ i hate that “it’s bad for the environment “ crap

[@shishoeh]

I live in Tel Aviv which is really hot and humid all summer, and so we have AC everywhere haha. But I do think that there are some unique things about TLV to combat the heat - 1) Formal attire isn't really a thing. Most offices do not have a stick dressing code and people come to the office with t-shirts and flip-flops, summer dresses and even shorts sometimes! 2) Cold coffee - Israelies really like their cold coffee in the summer! Tel Aviv has a great coffee culture, that shifts to cold coffee when it starts to warm up. 2 shots of espresso poured over milk, plant-based milk, or even just cold water with lots of ice is everywhere. Of course there's also gelato, fresh fruit juice, frappe... 3) Going to the beach! it's free, it's beautiful, and you can spend the day chilling in the wind coming from the sea. With a cold beer (in a can! no glass allowed), watermelon and a good book, or playing all kinds of ball games... the best passing time for when it's hot :)

[@bluenose4298]

jaffa beach is great but AC sucks.

[@SiqueScarface]

My parents live in a southwest facing house at a hillslope. And on the upper floor, the whole southwest facing wall is a large window, opening to the terrace there. So they have a canvas spanning the whole terrace, keeping the room surprisingly cool. On the floor below, there is another terrace, which is shaded by two clematis plants: nice in the spring and cooling in the summer. With the backside of the house (remember? It's a hillslope!) buried into the ground, it gets cooled from behind. And in the winter? Remove the canvas, and the clematis plants drop their leaves. Even the winter sun will heat up the house through the large windows, while the north side does not freeze, because the earth acts like a cushion.

Our family "tradition" was rolling the shutters down, so far that the lower end touches the end position, but stop there. You don't go completely dark (natural light is always better than artificial light) but still get tons of shade. And of course tilt the windows… maybe open them completely depending on outside temps.

[@TheKoreanAlien]

We lived in Korea for more than 12 years - a place that is considerably more hot and humid throughout the summer. Even though we had aircon in our home, we very (very) seldomly used it - mostly because of the high energy consumption & cost (up 1,000 USD per month). So we strictly followed the Korea way of surviving the summer: 1. Never drink or eat cold, instead drink lukewarm tea or eat hot soups (the human body consumes more energy while digesting cold food and therefore heats up even more) 2. Use air de-humidifiers - they consume only little energy, but the result is, that dry air feels much cooler than humid air 3. use fans wherever possible (but not during the night - there is a Korean saga around this) 4. Choose your home at a place with good feng shui - during the summer the flying dragon (=cool air from a mountain or sea / lake) will definitely relieve your summer stress :-)

[@HalfEye79]

I'm curious: Are hot (spicey) meals also a way to fight the heat? I know that in regions around the equator there hot spices are way commoner.

[@TheKoreanAlien]

@@HalfEye79 True. Food in warmer countries tends to be more hot (spicy). But to my knowledge this tradition was developed mostly in order to conserve food ( chilly contains anti bacterial elements). Although Koreans of course like very spicy food, a typical dish for the summer is chicken in a mild chicken broth (삼계탕). This is quite hot (temperature) while being mild...

[@picobello99]

@@HalfEye79 Yes it is! Spicy food makes you sweat more which cools you down.

[@grandmak.]

I live in an old brick building ( 1905) without Rollläden and windows that can't be tilted. I open the windows early in the morning and late at night and keep my curtains drawn during the day. When it is very hot I use a fan during the day. Fortunately my bedroom is on the shady side of the house. When travelling the US I always caught a cold from the AC and found it uncomfortably chilly.

[@irenecarrillo6750]

ACs are also bad for the environment, apart from utilizing a lot of energy, cost a lot and ruin your health

[@Nightey]

In the SE of Austria we have a lot of foothills nearby that don't usually reach more than 1500m - and they are filled with caves. So here a favourite summer activity is to take the gondola up to the nice 20-22°C cold mountain and enjoy the beergarden up there or just simply enjoy a tour of a cave of your liking where it has refreshing 12-15 degrees. And yes, in the last two decades it got that hot and humid that everyone nowadays is almost bragging about their moveable A/C's - mostly because landlords won't allow you to install a proper A/C because "the structural integrity of the building will be affected"...

[@TrangleC]

Waldmeister flavor is one of those things that just seem normal when you grow up in Germany and only when you travel abroad or learn in more detail about foreign cultures, you notice how unique it is to Central Europe. I think though that it was more common back in the 80s, probably because there generally were fewer different flavors for sweets and drinks and so on. My favorite travel destination would be the USA. A road trip in the USA is pretty much item 1 on my bucket list.

[@PassportTwo]

Can definitely imagine that's true! We had never heard of this flavor until moving to Germany and then all of a sudden we find Waldmeister ice cream, jello, drinks, etc. So funny how it seems to be so abundant here, yet so unheard of outside of this area!

[@steemlenn8797]

It's like macha in Japan. You can get everything macha (green tea) flavored there, not only ice, sweets or snacks.

[@gaby_b]

@@PassportTwo Außerdem gibts noch Waldmeisterbowle Eine köstliche Waldmeisterbowle ist im Monat Mai ein absolutes Muss. Das Rezept ist einfach in der Zubereitung und schmeckt. Zutaten 100 ml Wasser 100 g Krsitallzucker 1 l Weißwein 1 l Sekt 1 St Zitrone (in Scheiben) 1 Bund Waldmeister Zubereitung Das Wasser zum Kochen bringen, Zucker zufügen und umrühren. Danach auskühlen lassen. Den Wein in ein Bowlengefäß (Glasschüssel) leeren und den Waldmeister hinein hängen. (Der Waldmeister sollte einen Tag angewelkt sein, die Stiele sollten nicht hinein, auch keine Blüten verwenden.) Je nach Aromastärke die Waldmeisterblätter mindestens 20 Min. oder länger in der Schüssel hängen lassen. Die in Scheiben geschnittenen Zitronen sowie das Zuckerwasser zufügen. Nach den 20 Min. die Blätter des Waldmeisters entfernen und mit Sekt aufgießen. Tipps zum Rezept Für die Deko können 1-2 Blätter Waldmeisterblätter in die Bowle gegeben werden. Auch Limettenscheiben und Eiswürfel können zusätzlich zugefügt werden.

[@amainzergoesplaces568]

A point you didn't mention is: Just getting used to warmer temperatures. Yes, those heatwaves sometimes arrive out of nowhere and it is exhausting to have temperatures jump from the mid 20s (C) to the upper 30s within a day or two. But after a couple days your body just get used to it. It would be much more difficult to adopt if everytime I went outside or back in I made my body deal with a huge temperature change caused by air conditioning. That said: We gave in and bought a cooling device for our bedroom for those really tropic night (which we haven't experienced yet this summer). I also like the soft breeze air cleaners make. Way more gentle than any fan and therefore perfect for bedrooms.

[@kimgardner1615]

Great video! I think it's worth mentioning that the houses are built very different here from in the US. Here house are built very solid and with concrete blocks that will keep the inside much cooler than a typical wooden built house in the US. Also, we have portable AC units too and love them for cooling our bedrooms to help get a good night sleep. (SIDE NOTE: I was in your village today and your Edeka is AWESOME! So much bigger and a great selection compared to the one I live near. Maybe I will run into you sometime🙂)

[@PassportTwo]

You're definitely right! But even with them being built with concrete blocks that should stay cool inside, when those temps rise, we still melt in our place 😂 (haha, it is a nice one! We like to travel around and try out different grocery stores from time to time and compare them. For sure ours has a massive selection of goods compared to others in the area 😊)

[@InTeCredo]

Yes, my American friends were surprised at how cool my home without air conditioning during the searing days. The key is to keep the windows on the sunny side shut and shutter/blind down. Sometimes, darkening the interior with shades would give the impression that it's cool inside.

[@LythaWausW]

You know what German building stays cool without AC all Summer long? Koelner Dom.

[@verwesne8121]

It’s essential (if mosquitos are an issue in that region) to open the windows and have them „sealed“ with a „Fliegengitter”..eeehm the “mosquito- net-thingy” you put over the window space. I lived over five years in America and forgot the actual English term for it again :) But that helps. When I moved back to Germany I really had to adjust again to having no air conditioner anymore or window-air conditioner units....it’s crazy how you totally get used to either way . 😅 but for me nowadays, opening windows and a fan does the trick

[@PassportTwo]

We call them "window screens" 😊 You're definitely right though about how quickly you get used to it! We have definitely gotten used to not having AC and opening windows and fans are enough now, but it was a slightly rough start learning how to do it probably and get over being used to AC for 27 years 😅

[@verwesne8121]

@@PassportTwo I lived in Pennsylvania and I literally couldn’t imagine how my Amish/Mennonite neighbors survived this shredding heat in the summer without electricity/ and ACs. They just keep the windows open everywhere but man...they impressed me 😅

[@TrangleC]

I think they are called "bug screen" or something like that.

[@PassportTwo]

In our part of the US we always just called them "window screens" 😊

[@magmalin]

@@TrangleC In Australia they were called fly wires. All houses also had a fly wire door fitted in front of the actual enterance door.

[@Pewtah]

This survival tipp might be for you, especially if you live near by a river or sea: To keep the gnats (Mücken) out of the apartment keep the windows and doors closed during dawn. Those flies love to be active during sunset until darkness.

[@MoDKoP]

Best place to be in a hot summer are the smaller islands in the North Sea! But it will hard to find an open bed on short notice!

[@obsidianwing]

Try RÖMÖ a Danish Half island its close to german Border and a awesome place for weekend trip over a whole week with some food planning ( denmark is way more expensive). You can drive on Ferry over the Sylt with the car or bike

[@xwormwood]

Best solution from my point of view: have / rent a house or flat with some cellar rooms. When it gets hot, you move downstairs, where it will take one or two weeks before you even feel the need to remove cloth, and will be able to snuggle yourself deep into your bed even though everyone else upstairs is already melting.

[@forkless]

This. My cellar used to be a dark room prior to the digital age, but slowly got converted to a (model/electronics) hobby space. In the summer when it gets unbearable I will move my laptop down there and either do some work or chill out watching a movie or listen to some music.

[@my5ks48]

You should have mentioned "Hitzefrei". We used to get out of school once the thermostat reached 29 Celsius. Yet we had to always attend school all day in the winter when it was in the negatives. It's ironic comparing it to Texas or the southern US where everything shuts down even over some flurries but in the summer even we'll into 40 Celsius people hang out at the pool all day.

[@swanpride]

not me. When the ice got really bad, the pupils further away couldn't reach the school, so we usually could go home, too, since it didn't make much sense to teach only half of the class.

[@PrincessOfSpace42]

Wir hatten halt ehrlich nie Hitzefrei. Kann mich noch an den einen Tag erinnern wo wir 35 grad im Raum hatten und ich beinahe ne panikattacke bekommen habe weil ich das nicht mehr ertragen konnte. Ein mal zu meiner Lebenszeit habe ich Hitzefrei an meiner Schule mitbekommen. Da kam die Aussage durch "Aufgrund der hohen Temperaturen seid ihr vom Unterricht freigestellt, nachdem die jetzige Unterrichtsstunde vorbei ist...... außer die Oberstufenschüler" Da war ich grade in der 10 glaube ich. Wurde noch nie in meinem Leben so verarscht.

[@frauantjeshayday-farmen9517]

@@PrincessOfSpace42 Da hattest du aber echt Pech. Wir hatten ja schon den Verdacht, dass die Regel zu genau befolgt wurde: Das Thermometer soll an der kühlsten Stelle der Schule sein - sprich, es ging das Gerücht, das Thermometer sei im Kühlschrank, weil wir immer als letzte Schule Hitzefrei hatten. Aber doch, wir hatten Hitzefrei, immer ein paar Tage. Im Südzimmer oder Ostzimmer mit der halben Wand aus Glas war das echt ein Problem, weil es da schon sehr früh unerträglich wurde, aber da war das Thermometer nicht...

[@suekellner4736]

In my region Hitzefrei only applied to lower grades. From 9th grade on it wasn't a thing below 32°C and in 12th and 13th grade you are considered to almost be an adult so no Hitzefrei at all.

[@CathyTalksMiami]

Here in South Florida is summer all year long! We basically have two seasons, summer and very hot summer 😂. Having air conditioning is a life saver for sure. In the Caribbean where most people don’t have a/c what I noticed is they keep in the shade, open windows lo allow a “breeze” to flow around the house and block windows with direct sun heat, add to that as many fans as possible and very light clothing (lots of cotton and linen). Drink as much water as possible and avoid walking around when the sun it too hot. Hydration is key. You can also use a wet towel around your neck and wear light colors when outside, preferably white. Hope you guys have a great August! Thanks for the entertainment content! Well done!

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

What part of Florida are you from? I am originally from Ocala :).

[@CathyTalksMiami]

Miami :)

[@my5ks48]

Your Lüften Video is so spot on. I shared it with American friends to explain it better.

[@twinmama42]

Best travel destination - Kärnten (Austria) and Slovenia: lakes to swim, mountains to climb and history/culture to experience.

[@reinerjung1613]

4:11 When to open or close windows depends on whether it is cooler inside than outside and whether you have shutters (Rollladen) or folding shutter (Fensterladen). Esp. the latter allow to shade the house while air can circulate through the open window. If the temperature inside is lower than outside => apply shutters and close windows. If humidity is rising => open windows to allow the air to flow through the house. Usually there is a temperature differential between north and south side of the house then open windows to allow airflow from north to south (or vs). Or there is a general breeze then open windows accordingly. In case keeping the cool air in has failed, as it is hot for days, than the best thing is to follow behavior from our southern neighbors. Open the windows (maybe use shutters to avoid sun heating) to create a flow through. Many Germans reject this, as air flow kills people in Germany. You can augment the airflow with wet towels. This work esp. good in hot dry air. While drying the towel, the air loses energy and becomes cooler. In addition: General follow summer behavior rules from Italy, Spain and Portugal. Which means: Do not walk in the sun. Do not sit in the sun. Find a place with a slight breeze. Drink a lot (no not sangria) of water or similar stuff. On a personal note: Drink a lot of hot espresso, eat less/no meat and more veggies works perfectly.

[@Grumpy_Guy]

Back in 2003 it was over 104F (40C) for more than a week here in the Stuttgart-area and our ceiling fan was a lifesaver! This year I also got a great Dyson fan and I love it!

[@andreaseufinger4422]

For the night, I recommend ceiling fans, you just run them slowly, they don't create any sound. If you get one with a lamp, you just replace your regular lamp on the ceiling.

[@mowana1232]

I lived in Hong Kong for twenty years, which is subtropical and extremely humid and hot in summer. Apartments have air-conditioning, but in the country-side there are a few old, historical buildings left were you can see how people coped with the heat before air-conditioning. They have extremely thick walls, some are half-built into the ground, most are under trees, and they have next to no windows. Basically, a well insulated cellar under trees is ideal :). While living there, I learnt to take the risk of suffering a heatstroke really seriously. When I went hiking, I always took lots of water with me and wore a hat. Hydration and keeping your noggin at ideal temperature is key.

[@MrChillerNo1]

Rolladen tango: depending on the sun, keep Rolladen down on the sunny side, while keeping the windows open on the shady side. That only works if you have at least two sides, preferably east-west. Also I use Ice blocks on very hot days (aroud a liter in a open container) that I make in the freezer. I use them in combination with ventilators. Just place the container higher than the ventilator and put a towel under, to catch condenstation. It lasts for a night (~7h). Also drinking much water, or even better cucumber water with a small pinch of salt to replace lost minerals through sweat. Warm mint tea works great too.

[@Mysterymelmoth]

This summer of 2021 in germany was not representitive of what we usually get. This was the coolest and most rain filled summer I ever remember.

[@Archphoenix1]

you have to open the windows( and rolladen) that are not directly in sight of the sun, while you keep those closed that are in sight of the sun with the rolladen down

[@PassportTwo]

That's a great tip! 😃

[@UncreativeJulia]

And oh boy if your apartment doesn’t have any rollladen and in addition is a Dachgeschosswohnung, you are fckd.

[@steemlenn8797]

@@UncreativeJulia Yeah, that's capitalism. You can either afford a nice place - or you have to live noisy and hot.

[@althelas]

I have a Dachgeschoß flat and it can get really hot in summer. I have a fan and if it gets unbearable hot I just take a wet dishtowl and put in on the fan, the water cools down the air a bit. My favourite addition to my bedroom in the summer are frozen gel pads (usually used for injuries or migraines) I have about 4-6 in my freezer all the time and about an hour before I want to go to be, I put two in my bed. One into the pillowcase and the second one down and the footend. By the time I go to sleep, the bed is just cool enough. My favourite drink in the summer is a jug of tap water, with ice cubes or frozen rasberries, a few slices of cucumber and lemon or lime. Sometimes I put mint leaves in it. It is so refreshing and tasty.

[@horbuchasmrkanal2774]

Until visiting the US for the first time I didn't even realize that air condition existed outside of cars 😃😄

[@PassportTwo]

😂I grew up with my parents and grandparents talking about what life was like before AC and we used to think that nowadays everybody has it "now that the technology exists" 😂😂

[@robbyh.8165]

Yeah, you should travel more often then. Germany is the exception here, not the US. ;)

[@Thorsten_Wiegand]

@@robbyh.8165 : Not necesary. Countries in North Europe like Germany, UK, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands also don´t have/need AC

[@robbyh.8165]

@@Thorsten_Wiegand yes they do. The summer heat is already unbearable here and quite a few neighbors, including myself have already installed AC systems.

[@kraknoix0075]

@@robbyh.8165 Not really murican, not having an AC is the rule in 75% of europe. Also almost all asian and african countries

[@chkoha6462]

My favourite place in summer is high up in the alps hiking, cool and fresh air up there.

[@fabianvolkel4346]

We do it by keeping the roller blinds down during the day (usually 3 quarters down) and during the night we cool the house down by opening the windows For the tropical nights we have 3 fans to get some circulation and cool down that way (it usually takes one hour)

[@CreatorInTrng]

Grew up in Missouri (also known as the State of Misery - I can say that. I was born and raised there.). In the depths of Summer the temperature and humidity raced each day to see which would hit '95' first. I now live in Munich Germany. I also noticed the lack of air conditioners when I first arrived (20+ years ago). And it's true, for the most part they are not needed, especially in the typical 4 to 6 story apartment house in a city. They are well insulated and you kind of get a cave effect particularly if you don't live on the top floor. There have been a few very warm/hot summers and fans are then essential. We'll have to see if that holds as time passes. This Summer has not been too bad so far. Cars - yes, cars have AC. Even if the temp is 'acceptable' outside, the thermal effect of these rolling tin cans can bake you. And, of course, no one drives on the Autobahn with the windows down at 180+ km/h; the sound and wind would be unbearable.

[@ericsmith5730]

Hey! I’m From Sikeston Missouri and now living in Frankfurt am Main!

[@holgernelke196]

Since childhood I do the same things to stay cool during German summer. 1. All windows fully open at night and closed as soon as outside temperature comes close to the inside temp and outside blinds completely shut until sunset. 2. Hang a wet sheet into the bedroom window to further cool down the incoming air at night. 3. If all that fails and temps at night stay above 22°C I just grab my cat, pillow and a thin blanket and sleep on a camping bed in the basement.

[@hypatian9093]

Rolladen are important - but if they are exposed to the sun, don't close them totally, but keep the slits open. Otherwis,e the air between the shutters and the window will overheat. When they aren't hit by the sun, close them to get the better insulation (works great in winter, too).

[@favoritevids8869]

We live under the roof. It gets really hot even if temperatures aren’t that high. So my tip: follow the shady side. Leave the windows open on the shade side of the house. When the sun isn’t there (morning and evening) open all windows and leave a window cracked in the bedrooms. You don’t have to lower the Rollladen on the shade side so you still get some light. As for summer destinations: the Baggersee. Cheap and a nice cool off.

[@biancaf9428]

I think the Frei in Freibad comes from freistehend or freiangelegt and not necessarily free also could be Schwimmbad. I live in NYC for 22 years and love my air condition.:) my parents still live in the house I grew up in Germany (Bad Steben in Franconia), they get a nice air circulation opening the front and back door but that is probably specific to their house.

[@axemanracing6222]

It's no Hallenbad, it's im Freien.

[@StareyeODL]

We have no air condition and i have a great method to overcome days of extreme heat. we just go upstairs to my parents appartment and chill in their air conditoned guestroom :D

[@PassportTwo]

😂😂 Perfekt!

[@Jan_Seidel]

I love a water glass filled with 1-2 fingers high with Wermut bianco (wermouth), topping up a 3rd of the glass with a multi fruit juice and filling the rest of the glass with sparkling water and ice cubes. The wermuth adds some special taste and the alcohol helps your body to vent heat. Eat light dishes like salad or Kaltschale (1 liter buttermilk, 2 egg yolk, a tea spoon vanilla sugar, 1-2 spoons of sugar. well stirred and served with zwieback). Eat hot like chilli con carne helps too

[@sabinebiesalski5618]

Der beste Tipp für einen kühlen Sommer: Vorhänge schließen. Wenn die Vorhänge oder Rollläden tagsüber geschlossen sind, wird es nicht so warm in der Wohnung. Selbst in Spanien (Gran Canaria) konnte ich so bei konstant 38 Grad C und ohne Klimaanlage oder Ventilator die Wohnung immer auf bewohnbarer Temperatur haben.

[@lucieherrick6934]

The struggle is real. I am from South Carolina and now live in Kaiserslautern. Even during the cooler nights, it still is hard to sleep without ac. We use fans as well. Lauterbrunnen for a get away. So beautiful.

[@andlem]

Let the cool of the night into the apartment or house, close the windows in the morning and lock out the heat. Sometimes I put my feet in a bowl of ice water at home - aahh, that feels good!

[@dschanriihl9043]

The most crucial part on cooling your home over night is, to use the fans to push the humid & hot air out. The most problematic part on keeping your home cool, is to get the walls to cool down.

[@frauantjeshayday-farmen9517]

Waldmeister is a small plant, similar to Baldrian, but smelling and tasting sweet - exactly as Waldmeistereis does. When you pass it in nature, your nose will identify it earlier than your eyes.

[@TheAmeley]

Zum Lüften im Sommer: Kurz nach Sonnenaufgang (=kühlste Zeit des Tages) Durchzug. Dann Rolladen herunter und die Fenster zu. Die Türen im Haus zwischen den Zimmern lasse ich aber offen. Im Schlafzimmer mache ich nachts die Rolladen so weit runter, dass nur die Schlitze zu sehen sind und Fenster sind offen.

[@petrahaarmann4327]

Like Grandma K. we live in the northern part of Germany. Our house was built in 1908 and the walls are as thick as 90cm. Bedrooms are located in the east and so are our living rooms. The dining room and the kitchen are on the west side of the house. To the north there is the "Diele" attached to the house - a spacious building of more then 500 square meters, originally meant for cattle, the horses, the chickens and some sheep with the threshing floor on the first floor. It is a heat source in winter and an cooler during summer. Only the main entrance and the Hall are situated in the south. But due to only two big windows and the thick walls it does not heat up very much. In the end room temperature is always cool, even without shutters. I think it is better to stick to the traditional way of building houses in the specific area. The forebears knew how to deal with local conditions. We don't even have a fridge as our cellar keeps the temperature well at 8° c in summer and winter.

[@xcoder1122]

Heat always travels upwards. Think of a balloon: Hot air makes it fly. So we typically keep all our windows shut over the day except for those at the roof. Having the roof windows open just a little bit allows the hottest air of the house to escape and keeps humidity down (as the hotter the air, the more humidity it will absorb). And if you need daylight in a room but don't want the sun to heat it up, there are those sheets you can buy that allow light to pass through a window but block the majority of heat radiation from the sun. They stick on glass without any glue and can be removed easily without leaving any traces.

[@willibutz4790]

Here is the next insider tip from yours native Pfälzer: Just enter Eiswoog (lake) in your navigation system. It's not far from K-Town and there is a lake in the forest where you can swim for free. But be careful the water is f..... cold even the summer is really hot. The name says it all: Eis = ice ; woog = Middle High German word for standing water

[@ContraMenulis]

Hello, nice Video. I life in a small town in Baveria / Germany. I think one big reason for not to have AC at home are the costs. In the US you mostly have the heating and AC system as part of the ventilation system. That means you heat up or cool down the Air and "pump" it in the Rooms and the Air heats up the Room. So if you have a ventilation System in the gole house an AC unit is relativ cheap. On the other side in Germany the heating system are without ventilation systems. That means in Germany you heat up Water and pump hot Water in the Rooms in teh radiatiors or the Floor. So the warm Floor or Radiatior heats up the Air. So if you want to get an "typical" AC you need to install a ventilation system first. In new houses with geothermal heating (very popular today) you have most of the time underfloor heating. So the newer System can cool down the water for the underfloor heating in the Summer what is really great. So you don´t need an ventilation system and can have a cool house.

[@moiragores1226]

Tip for keeping the house cool - I planted trees and high bushes to keep the shade on the house... but if it does get to hot (Like now) I habe our tent up in the garden and we sleep outside in the tent :) Always nice and cool :)

[@marjanpel1563]

A life without an air conditioner is a better one for the planet! Always keep that in mind!

[@jefferyoetter6884]

I live on the top floor and it can be much hotter inside than outside but I also close my curtains which are made of thick material that helps keep the cold out in the winter and blocks a lot of the heat from the sun. I do have a fan but only use it when there's no breeze or hot outside but still too windy to open up the east and west side windows.

[@saschamohr7970]

In home office have a big bowl with cold water in it under your desk, put your feet in there. And remember to _move slower_, protect yourself from direct sunlight, the usual.

[@Flugkaninchen]

I live in the North of Germany. Whenever it gets hot, I actually enjoy it while it lasts. It's not that often, and living between North Sea and Baltic Sea there is almost always a breeze.

[@DaveXYZ369]

"If you see a fan, buy it and hold on to it until that moment that you´ll be thankful you got it" A good german is always prepared for the unknown :) Also: "Wich fans we recommend? ANY, ALL OF THEM" ... yeah, that´s the first lesson to become a summer-cooling-expert We maybe serve smaller ice portions but as you said, we have a variety that will takte your breath away :) 1) always open the windows at night and get the heat out. When the sun rises, close all windows and put the blinders/Rolladen down so no heat can come into the room and then turn on dem sweet fans, a bowl of cold water before the fan can freshen up the air (the air has to flow over the cold water), spots for cold feet baths (don´t forget the towels) are also a great way of cooling yourself down that paired with a fan or two is just the heaven of cooling (don´t forget the cold drink). 2) There is often one spot in the house/appartment that has no direct sunlight, if there is a window use that window at daylight to get some fresh air in because it´s mostly not so warm like the ones that get the direct sunlight (yeah, "physics" is a big part of the survival in germany and we will not apologize for it :) ). Place a Fan at that window and let the air get suck in via fan it´s cooler while entering the room. 3) Cooling at night: open all windows and check the natural flow of the air (where it enters and leaves the house/appartment) and place fans so they can help that natural flow to move more air out, you can get the room faster cool but it depends strongly on the natural flow of the air, when the air "stands" that´s the only option to get some nice airflow In the summer try to enjoy our nature and sight seeing tours, grab your bike, get some bike bags and a good backpack and then just ride away through the summer or go to the Schwimmbad :)

[@Grandy_UiD]

If you have Rolladen that are installed on the outside like you guys do, you've pretty much won already. Because they actually prevent the sun from hitting your windows and therefore your windows from heating up. I only have Gardinen inside my flat. While they do prevent sunlight from pouring directly into the flat, the sunlight still hits the windows, literally turning them into heaters that give off heat WELL even after the sun has gone down. It sucks.

[@frauantjeshayday-farmen9517]

The breeze through the house will always be warm. Don't open the windows before wetter.de and your inside thermometer convince you that the temperature outside is lower than inside. Otherwise you'll get the warm air in and the cold air our.

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

Needless to say that this is yet another awesome video by awesome Folks. Being originally from Florida I am used to the heat. However, as I am getting older I am learning to appreciate the cool weather when it comes. In early July 2021, I had spent nine days in a German hospital. Even though I was in the alps it got quite warm during the day in my room. My roommates and I kept shuffling the windows trying to get a good enough breeze going. However, at night we had left the windows open enjoying the 52 degrees F :).You know what I am going to say next lol. I love the ice cream talks and especially the "Spaghetti Eis" lol. I would like to try some of your favorite ice creams as well. I enjoyed seeing all of the "fan" gestures as well Talking into the fan and the other scenes were surely funny. My all-time favorite (German) summer getaway is of course Garmisch, DE swimming in the Eibsee. Thanks guys for yet again a totally awesome video :).

[@PassportTwo]

The Spaghetti Eis portion in this video was specifically for you of course 😊

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

@@PassportTwo I love it, Thank You :).

[@christyp4740]

We open everything up at night and close it all up by 8am before it gets too hot. Love those shutters! And we have fans! 8 assorted size fans throughout the house that we honestly use all year! We are from Vegas, Las Vegas, and to beat the heat there you don’t leave your house til the sun goes down. Or you head to the water park. Then we moved to TX and well same thing!

[@PassportTwo]

Yup, we are unfortunately very familiar with the Texas heat and humidity. Definitely enjoy the more mild summers here! 😅

[@Mamaki1987]

Best summer destenation? As far north as possible to see the midnight sun of course :-D Or somewhere up a mountain. It is cooler up there. Another way to stay cool in summer is taking a luke warm shower. That really helps. And cool drinks as well. Nothing can beat a wonderful iced coffee in summer or cold water

[@moppels.6589]

If it is hot keep the windows and curtains closed during the day and all windows wide open from late in the evenig, during the the night and the early morning hours - thats the best way to keep your house cool. 😎 Personally I neither like AC nor electric fans. Aside of the closed/open windows I like to use a simple hand-fan while listening to music or watching tv.

[@theorganguy]

When it got too hot in the upstairs living quarters, we just went downstairs! If it gets really hot we sprinkle the whole parking lot with water, the evaporation cools down the air... or hang wet towels/sheets (same idea) ...worst case szenario: spend some time in the cellar - hate not having a good cellar in north america...

[@nord4mucke337]

We have a fairy tale about airing out laundry: Frau Holle.

[@PassportTwo]

Wow! You are chalk full of things we haven't heard of before 😂

[@kgspollux6998]

@@PassportTwo The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales are better for cold winter evenings, aren't they?

[@ernestmccutcheon9576]

Another very well made and pretty accurate video. You could have mentioned how, when there is air conditioning, that Germans will complain about „Zugluft“ (drafts) and that the air is bad. At home I use a large fan. Last year my neighbors installed a air conditioner in their bedroom. An interesting „fact“ about air conditioning in businesses is that they are not allowed to lower the temperature more than 7-8 degrees below the outside temperature, so you don‘t have to bring a jacket with you when you go to a store/restaurant. You also didn‘t mention the fact that the windows often (usually) don‘t have screens, so that with the cooler air, you also get unwanted visitors when you air out your apartment.😛

[@holzi4788]

10:26 in the supermarket in the aisle with the freezers and cooled goods ;D

[@rolandratz1]

I hardly drink alcohol all year round, but in the summer months my consumption increases drastically: I swear by one-cold mixed drinks and here specifically "gin and tonic and lemon". That - though also drunk in moderation, is my favorite drink in the summer months. But soon after that comes beer spritzer "Radler" and "apple juice spritzer". But they also have to be ice cold. And as far as the room temperature is concerned, you've already mentioned it - windows closed during the day, shutters closed in gaps. After dusk, open the windows wide and create a draft in the house. I, for example, at night with the window open, shutters half down and naked covered only with a linen cloth!

[@JDoors]

Seeing the air conditioner you used I'm reminded of the hesitancy of Europeans to have washers and dryers. That type of air conditioner is known for being inefficient, as are the washers combined with dryers you generally have available. If the only appliances you have are barely adequate, it's not surprising people shy away from them.

[@nadjabrause4821]

Open the windows during the night, so the cooler air can some in, and then shortly after sunrises , close them and shut the Rollos, to keep the heat out. It works well with our brick home, as it's isolated. I don't know if it would work in e.g. a wooden home. Also, spending time in the basement a lot, cause there its always the coldest.

[@kgspollux6998]

The last scene in your video shows exactly, what I've done over the last ten years. I bought a high powerful mobile AC and placed it completely at the balcony outside, only letting the cool, dehumified air blowing inside the bedroom - through the whole tenement and remove it through a tilt window at the northern side of the living room. Believe me, it is simply the best. You'll need that about the hottest 6-8 weeks of the year - after that, dismount the device, clean it and place it into storage until next summer. ☺

[@anoukanouk5595]

When I go to work, I open all the windows in the morning and shut them and the Rolladen completely before I leave. That way, it is not to hot when I return in the evening. When not working or working from home, I wait with the closing of the windows until it is hotter outside than inside and wait with lowering the Rolladen until the sun hits the windows.

[@peterzapp2091]

I have the same issues in the Mediterranean area or in parts of Southern Africa. Only few weeks of indoor temperatures below 18°C. No central heating, but a lot of mobile gas/electric heaters, wearing fleece, long-johns and gloves in the office etc..

[@PassportTwo]

Oh that's really interesting to hear the same problem in the opposite direction! 😃 We fortunately do have heaters and are nice and toasty in the winter even though the winters here.

[@helgaioannidis9365]

I confirm. I live on a Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea and most houses here don't have central heating. In winter my children wear their coats and on the few very cold days also their gloves at school. There's also no air conditioning at their schools either. On very hot days in-between lessons the teachers get the kids to play a game that mainly involves trowing water at each other, so they all can cool down. I've been living here for 17 years and changed 7 houses. None had central heating. It's considered complete luxury here.

[@holger_p]

.. would be so easy to heat with the sun, also at 10°C, hope the environmental aspects become part of south african mentality too. They already are on water consumption.

[@LythaWausW]

Oh dear, your AC vent needs the window to be open! That sucks, we had to do that at first but then we installed a cat door and the hose fits perfectly. Our local Freibad flooded along with the rest of our region, and the entire pool was taken over by muddy streams, overflowing with mud, you couldn't tell there was a pool at all. My American friend asked, "What is that construction project down there?" That was the pool. A pool that is only open 6 weeks per year was hit by the Sturmtief Bernd at exactly the wrong time. We're in Seattle now baking in the heat but it's so simple, we just stay inside because everyone has AC. 92 degrees outside, 68 inside: ) I'm eating Mexican food every day. I recently discovered an amazing Waldmeister drink. It's Bitburger's Fass Brause Waldmeister, bright green in color. It tasted like one of those Christmas gumdrop cakes, for some reason. To me Waldmeister is a mystery flavor usually.

[@derhauser]

My cooling in summer: drive sundays to the Ostsee( 75 km from my home ) And at week: i work by a butcher, and we have a Kühlzelle. I dont know the english word for. Best place for summer. Everytime 4°C.

[@swanpride]

I like to open the shutters just enough that there are some light points and then tilt the window during the day. This way there is just enough air coming in that you don't suffucate, but the air doesn't come in quite as hot because it is cooled down considerably on the way through the cracks.

9:40 is the funniest part :D

[@conniebruckner8190]

I take a thin shawl and wet it with cold water and drape it around my neck or wear it as a turban on my head to cool down quickly when coming indoors on a warm day. We too open all the windows at night and whomever is up first in the morning closes them. (we have no rolladen) Thankful to have invested in bug screens and ceiling fans. Am now actually thinking of getting a small AC, a portable unit, but will purchase it in the autumn. Have been reading reviews and pros and cons about them.

[@furzkram]

Let the window blinds down about 80%, so you don't need to turn on heat creating lights, but the sun won't have a chance to heat up the glass or the inside through the glass. Open windows only when the outside temp falls below the inside temp. Fresh air which is warmer than the inside air might be more "fresh" - but it's still heating up the place. As soon as the outside temp drops below the inside temp, open opposing windows so a draft is created. Air out the house through the night until the sunrise makes the outside temp rise again. If there's no draft and the air is standing still, place a huge fan about half a meter from a window blowing air OUT and open an opposing window, even tilted open is enough. Use an air humidifier fan unit that rinses water over a honeycomb structure on its back, not these mini cubes, but these a meter high ones with a 20 liter tank at the bottom. This only helps when it's a dry heat, but it's useful too in winter when the cold air becomes TOO dry.

[@tinkerwithstuff]

When the air is cooler outside than inside, I'd only close windows where direct sunlight, or strongly reflected heat from somewhere close by (downstairs window and there are heated up sidewalk stones next to the window?), is coming in, but keep everything open for air exchange elsewhere. If the air temperature is actually warmer, then only letting air in when some fresh air is needed is probably smarter. If you had the inner shine-through but not see-through GARDINEN and not just the thick drapes, you could also just sit around with barely any, if actually any, clothes on. That does help _a lot_ ;)

[@tinkerwithstuff]

While not very common in Germany, what I find much better than all those small-ish fans that rotate at a high speed and thus produce more unpleasant noise - *install a ceiling fan* ! With something like 130cm "wing span" that can shovel a lot of air at low speed and low noise. Look in online stores for those to get the best stuff, but some "Baumarkt" may also have a few.

[@EricB256]

When it's too hot, I like taking my bicycle for some laps in the below-ground parking garage, so the cold wind down there will cool me down as well.

[@PUTDEVICE]

have the windows open. have a portable AC but I haven't used it this year because of the electricity price of 5.70 sek kw in southern Sweden today. ($0.55). has ceiling fan and floor fan. if it is extremely hot more 30 celsius ( 86 F ) at night then you can do a simple evap. drying rack where you hang some wet towels and let a fan blow between the towels. unfortunately, the effect ends when the towels have dried. but you might have time to fall asleep before then.

[@MeZuMix]

Best travel destination. Easy. Our garden 😉

[@norbertzillatron3456]

I'm a German and I turn on my A/C. Best investment I ever made 20 years ago. It only cools down one room, but that's good enough.

[@kenobiknodel2480]

I know something you can compare Waldmeister to. Tonka beans have the exact same aroma as waldmeister because they both contain coumarin.

[@HalfEye79]

One very important thing to note is: In which directions is your window? Only when it is to the south, the burning sun can shine into the house. But if it is to the north, and/or there is guaranteed shadow, you are safe. My last flat, a basement flat had big windows, but the sun shone into them only early at the day. The other time, there was shadow and the flat was cool. The flat, I had before that had only one little window and it was on the third floor right under the rooftop. And the window went to south. There were nights with a temperature (at night) of 31°C.

[@p.s.224]

My favourite travel destination for the summer would be the alps. The higher up you get, the cooler the temperatures. Also I just love mountains. As for the few really hot weeks, it helps having your bedroom on the north side of your building. This way I don’t have to shut down any Rolladen (emphasis on the first syllable) during the day. Apart from that, I am heavily pro opening windows and having fans constantly blowing the air around. I just can‘t stand stale air in the summer heat, it makes me claustrophobic. Also, since you will be sweating, the blowing air will cool you. And: just don‘t move and let it pass.

[@thegeckobrothers]

So, you can go into a Shopping-Center in Germany and cool down at this place. Most of the time they have air conditioning 😅 Don’t buy it. Just use it from the others 😎 You don’t pay the prove for it, the installation and electricity. (It’s the Schwaben-Klimaanlage 😄)

[@gromotion933]

The keyword is INSULATION! I live in a 300 year old halftimbered house..we open the window in the night and close it in Daytime. Closing the blinds also helps. Its pretty cool inside. But in summertime we usualy stay most of the times in our garden.

[@AnSe902]

Haha the fan and Donnie's hair 😄

[@PrincessOfSpace42]

German here. My dad wanted to buy me an air conditioner because the temperature would be so high for me to sleep only 5 hours a night but i refused out of spite. The summer wouldn't beat me.

[@ericsmith5730]

The summers here in Germany are like a cool breeze, compared to the humidity in South east Missouri! Lol

[@wmf831]

Very entertaining! 😊

[@PassportTwo]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed ☺️

[@chattieh10]

Enjoy.

[@dirkmayer1536]

Greetings from Ramstein.german guy is watching

[@AlexanderAmann]

Hallo Ihr Zwei! Absichtlich auf Deutsch! Vor ein paar Wochen habe ich Euren Kanal entdeckt und bin mittlerweile ein großer Fan geworden. Habe vermutlich mittlerweile all Eure Videos gesehen. ;-) Ich finde Ihr macht das ausgesprochen toll, ehrlich, wertfrei und sehr symphytisch. Und ja, manchmal ist es für mich merkwürdig, weil ich selbst noch nie darüber nachgedacht hatte und manchmal muss ich herzlich lachen. Nun seid Ihr schon zwei Jahre hier, dennoch: Willkommen in Deutschland. :-) Zum Video: Gösser ist ein österreichisches Bier! Für uns Bayern ist das ein sehr großer Unterschied! ;-) Das "Frei" in Freibad bedeutet nicht kostenlos, sondern eher sowas wie "für die Öffentlichkeit" - also nicht privat. Euer Titel ist sehr lustig! Die wenigen warmen Tage (über 30° C) genießen wir so sehr - wir würden uns niemals über eine Hitze beschweren! Darüber können wir uns bei 45° C und mehr unterhalten! ;-) Solltet Ihr mal wieder nach München kommen, seid Ihr herzlich eingeladen bei uns zu übernachten! Lasst uns einen weiteren normalen deutschen Pärchenhaushalt erkunden, "gekippte Fenster" ansehen, zusammen kochen, weitere Deutsche kennenlernen, oder auch wie auch immer! Wir hätten Spaß mit Euch! Übrigens: Hier in der Nähe ist Münchens beste Eisdiele! ;-)

[@canisius04]

Das "Freibad" ist das Gegenstück zum "Hallenbad" - "frei" = "draußen". Es hat nichts mit der "Öffentlichkeit" zu tun, sondern es ist schlichtweg "im Freien". Ein privater Pool draußen im Garten ist auch ein "Freibad", auch wenn man es wohl nicht so bezeichnen würde.

[@tanasay]

When it was 113 in Portland our family there went to the beach. It was 70º there. Here in Utah you can shave off 10º or more by going into the mountains.

[@HenryAusLuebeck]

I live in Lübeck, at the Baltic Sea 🌊. Da kann man sich herrlich abkühlen. 😉

[@wandilismus8726]

The Problem is Not the head. It's the humitidy

[@jlpack62]

Was this video made for NALF?