@lightbrite
I know I’m a lot older than you.
What your grandparents and Great grandparents did is a function of where they lived and their income.
My great grandparents lived in NYC. They had electric lights in their homes, not oil lamps and candles.
By the late 1920s the icebox in their homes had been replaced by GE refrigerators.
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If you wish to improve A/C efficiency and reduce entry of dust from inside the drywall to your living space. Go to Home Depot or similar and buy the foam inserts made for behind switchplates. They are available in single or doubly gang size and have punch outs you remove for outlets or switches. You unscrew the switchplate, punchout the shape of the outlet or switch, insert the foam piece and reinstall the switchplate. You’ll find that this also cust down on drafts from aoutlets and switches on outside walls that are under insulated.