Cities across the U.S. are experiencing heat waves. However, designing cities and structures for hot climates is nothing new. Early architects have developed design solutions for regulating temperatures. Yet, with this progression, a reliance has grown towards cooling systems like air conditioners creating a dependency that affects users and the environment. 

In an article written by the Daily Beast, Nicole Wetsman chats with architect, professor, and sustainable design leader Pablo La Roche. As faculty at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona and sustainability consultant for CallisonRTKL, La Roche has dedicated much of his work exploring passive cooling systems, carbon-neutral architecture, and affordable housing. In his conversation with Wetsman, La Roche shares, "The building becomes the air conditioner [...] It's about understanding the mechanisms." 

From improved insulation to better building facade designs, Westman goes on to elaborate on these methods of practice. "Building with energy and the environment in mind requires an intimate understanding of local climate, and the movement of the sun and wind [...] Today, the idea isn't to eliminate mechanical heating and cooling systems entirely, but to use them only when necessary."