If you live in the desert, living without air conditioning is a challenge at the very least.
People do it but it takes a different mindset than most people grow up with.
If living in Glendale, air conditioning is the easiest way out of the heat but it is not always possible.
For those who can't afford to keep their air conditioning going or repair it they have to try other alternatives.
One is to stay inside during the day like most desert animals.
Getting wet and letting the air dry you keeps you cool due to the evaporation process.
One way to live without much air conditioning is to start with a building that is built for just that.
Of course, you might want to put an air conditioner in your house just in case it really gets hot.
Using the right building materials in Mesa, AC can be kept to a minimum.
There are old materials like adobe and there are new materials like foam and other synthetic materials that have amazing insulation properties.
That, along with putting windows in strategic locations will cut down on much of the heat coming into your home.
If you can't do any of this because you are buying or living in an existing house, there are still many opportunities to cut down on the way you use your Arizona AC.
One is to cover your existing windows with one of the many materials that cut down on both heat and light.
There are tints available similar to those put on car windows.
There are screens that can be added that offer a significant improvement in the amount of heat allowed into the house.