Hot climate yurt solutions...

[SeedsmanJ]

Hi all,

This is my first post to this forum! I live in southern CA, and have lived in my 30' Pacific Yurt for about six weeks now. My question, before I give any more details about my situation, is: What are all the steps I can take to make this structure livable during 90˚F and hotter temperatures?

The walls and roof are insulated, but not the floor. There are three doors: north, east, and south...and there are three windows on the west wall. We don't yet have a ceiling fan, which I know can help when operated in reverse to pull hot air out.

The yurt is in full sun. Unfortunately, the trees planted around the yurt are a few years away from providing shade. I'm taking action now to make sure we do everything possible to survive next summer!

The month of September where I live was brutal: 95˚F+ almost every day. We were pushed out of our home by the heat on a daily basis from 10am until 5 or 6pm.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful. Here are a few of mine:
- ceiling fan!
- it looks like window awnings could help?
- erecting a GIANT shade cloth over the entire yurt??
- insulating the floor (not sure if this would help at all in the summer)

Thanks so much for any and all feedback!
sincerely,
Justin