Long before modern air-conditioning, communities across the globe developed various methods to cope with extreme heat, many of which remain effective today and may offer insights amid rising global temperatures.

In Japan, a traditional practice known as uchimizu involves sprinkling cold water onto sidewalks and streets. Originating from tea ceremony customs as an act of purification and hospitality, uchimizu also has measurable cooling effects. When water evaporates, it absorbs heat from the surrounding surfaces, lowering nearby air temperatures. A 2018 study demonstrated that even modest amounts of water could reduce ground-level temperatures by as much as 5.6 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). The method’s effectiveness increases when more people participate, reportedly even generating a cooling breeze. The Japan Water Forum promotes this practice with a global Uchimizu Day held annually on August 1.

In parts of India, especially during intense heat waves, communities have traditionally used woven screens made from the roots of vetiver grass to cool indoor spaces. These screens are kept moist and hung outside windows or doors facing the wind. As hot air passes through the wet vetiver, it is cooled by evaporation before entering the home. This natural cooling technique is particularly suited to dry climates and has inspired modern adaptations such as indirect evaporative cooling systems in data centers. Architects working with sustainable design, such as Liza Rajju Subhadra from Kerala, emphasize the importance of passive cooling strategies to reduce reliance on energy-intensive air-conditioning, which can exacerbate neighborhood heat by expelling hot air outdoors.

In the Middle East and North Africa, wearing loose-fitting dark robes has long been a customary way to manage heat, a practice supported by scientific research. A 1980 study published in Nature found that such robes absorb heat and warm the air inside the garment, which then rises and escapes, drawing cooler air upward from below. This circulation acts as a natural cooling pump, preventing heat from reaching the skin. Meanwhile, in hot and humid regions like the American South, lightweight fabrics including seersucker—a puckered cotton material—provide cooling benefits by allowing for better air circulation and preventing fabric from sticking to moist skin.

Dietary choices also play a role in heat management. While consuming spicy foods during hot weather may seem counterintuitive, capsaicin—the component that gives chiles their heat—activates receptors that simulate a sensation of heat in the body. This triggers vasodilation and sweating, natural responses that enhance cooling through evaporation. Thus, many warm-weather cuisines, such as those in India, Thailand, and Mexico, are traditionally spicy. Conversely, sugary cold beverages may suppress sweating and increase internal heat due to the body's efforts to metabolize sugar. In some Asian countries, people prefer drinking chilled teas made from plants like barley, which help hydrate and promote blood flow near the skin surface, facilitating heat loss. Alcoholic drinks, despite their cooling reputation, may impede temperature regulation by causing dehydration.

As climate change intensifies heat in many regions, these time-tested techniques—ranging from water sprinkling and natural ventilation to culturally rooted clothing and culinary habits—offer low-energy options for mitigating discomfort and health risks related to extreme heat.