Hot summer without air conditioner

We can not use air conditioners this summer as much as we used it as ever for energy saving.  We are facing at shortage of electricity this summer, probably not only this summer though, because there are no nuclear power plants in Fukushima and the alternative energy to cover our life in this hot summer has not been ready yet and it would take long time.
I decided not to use my air conditioners as much as possible, then we went ahead to a shop to buy awnings that block sun's rays.  Most of all sold out already and we couldn't prepare some mounting hardware.  People think same things.  Anyway, only one awning was fixed up at East side of our house.  I hope we could spend cooler summer by this effect.