air conditioner

Extreme temperatures present a significant challenge to AC systems, which engineers and installers say are really only designed to keep indoor temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than outside.

NPR readers share their favorite tips on how to cope with heat without an air conditioner. Among the tips: take a shower with a sheet on, then wear it to bed.

Heat wave researcher Gulrez Shah Azhar grew up in Uttar Pradesh, India, without an A/C unit. He shares tips on how to deal with the heat — including wearing a wet scarf around your neck.