August 16th, 2025 - Spain’s Traditional Methods Could Offer Solutions for Beating the Heat

In Seville, the unrelenting summer heat has pushed residents to adapt in creative, age-old ways to cope with rising temperatures. As the mercury climbed to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, locals, like Javier Recio, were forced to abandon outdoor activities. Seville, known for its sweltering heat, has seen temperatures soar, leaving many wondering if traditional methods can offer practical solutions to an increasingly heated world. While much of Europe is grappling with the consequences of climate change, Seville’s residents continue to rely on familiar, low-tech strategies for survival.

Seville’s response to extreme heat is grounded in its centuries-old urban design. Throughout the city, residents utilize awnings and thick stone walls to provide shade and keep cool. These structures, designed during centuries of oppressive heat, continue to serve their purpose today. During the summer months, narrow streets are often covered with white fabric to provide a much-needed respite from the scorching sun, and buildings remain cool behind tightly shut blinds.

Additionally, Seville draws on historical cooling technologies. Researchers are experimenting with methods dating back over a thousand years from Spain’s Muslim caliphates. One such technique, known as qanat, involves running water underground to cool hot air before releasing it through vents to lower temperatures inside. This ancient system, refined over the centuries, is being reimagined to tackle modern heat waves. Though such projects are still in their infancy, they hold promise for cooling spaces without relying on energy-intensive solutions.

While some of these methods are still being tested, modern adaptations of ancient cooling systems are being implemented in hospitals across Seville. For example, the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital uses a system that relies on cold water flowing through pipes to keep the building cool, reflecting a combination of traditional principles with updated technology. Similarly, residents of Seville, particularly the elderly, are being educated on the dangers of heatstroke, with nurses making house calls to monitor vulnerable individuals.

But despite these efforts, the city is not immune to the dangers of extreme heat. Thousands of people die each year in Spain due to high temperatures, and Seville, like much of the world, faces challenges as climate change exacerbates weather extremes. The rise in temperatures has also led to shifts in the way people live their daily lives. Seville’s residents are adopting a slower, more deliberate pace of life, especially during the hottest hours. Many now take evening walks or gather in shaded areas to avoid the sun’s intensity during the day.

The rising temperatures are also affecting local businesses and agriculture. Farmers are changing their crops to better withstand the heat, and restaurants are adjusting their schedules to avoid peak heat hours. While the city has found ways to adapt, residents and city planners acknowledge that the battle against heat is far from over. The city’s future may depend on refining these traditional practices while also exploring new, innovative ways to stay cool in an increasingly hot world.

Word of the Day(Merriam-Webster) - Tempestuous (adj, tem-PESS-chuh-wus) - Tempestuous is used to describe something that is related to or resembles a violent storm. In its literal (and often literary) use tempestuous is synonymous with turbulent and stormy. Figuratively, tempestuous describes something or someone full of strong emotions, such as anger or excitement.

Example: On its return to port the unlucky schooner was beset by tempestuous weather and nearly capsized.