Use a big window or ceiling attic fan that sucks the air out of your house. Put it in a hall cieling into attic or main room exterior wall. This will create a breeze through any opened window or door throughout the house. You open and close these as needed. Great air circulation and like having a fan at every open window or exterior door.
Just won't work, without a lot of expense. The house simply isn't designed that way (and ceiling fans still take electricity...if I have that, I have AC). My main big window doesn't open, it's all one piece. The house simply isn't designed for through airflow.
As for the batteries, already ordered a recharger that does AA, AAA, C, D, 9v. And ordered some rechargeable batteries. I get the advantages of the other, etc., but I already have quite a few battery powered lights, and these batteries are common to find. That's a big plus.
I also ordered a solar powered cell phone charger, just $25, and it will basically negate one of the biggest concerns many of us had during the storm...keeping our phones charged. Not only to check on loved ones, find out about power, etc., but also for entertainment, sharing the experience with others, good info on the storm, etc. We could actually see on radar, as the eyewall passed over us. (and when we were in the calm spot of the eye, I ran out and checked on all the animals!).
I'm with Brent though, on the generator plus propane tank power as a long term solution. I researched solar for a LONG time as well, but cost vs. benefit, the generator plus tank solution just blows solar out of the water (like a third of the cost, and more longevity of parts). This may change as tech changes for solar, but now, just not as viable of an option. And, many people learned a hard fact. When the grid is down, even solar people had no power, unless they also had some kind of battery solution. (this is because the solar feeds to grid, then they draw from the grid, and get a check for any unused power they generate). I know folks I personally talked to, who had this happen.
In the short term, we are simply going to get a small gas generator (about the 4000w range), and two window A/C units (5000 BTU). This would be for our son's room, and the guest bedroom (as they are on the same wall, and there by the dog yard). I can put the generator way out in the dog yard, 50' away from the house for noise and safety, and easily run cords to both of these rooms. The two rooms are pretty small, so they would be easy to keep cool. I can also run a cord to one fridge/freezer unit as well (though I'd probably cycle that, as it doesn't need constant power).
I'd still like an option for the well pump as well, so looking into that, but really, with our methods, we still had PLENTY of water, even if we had to go another week or more. And that's saying something, considering we were also watering 48 total animals as well. (between ours, boarders, and emergency boarded animals we took in). We basically utilized every stabling space we had, save one (and it was ready, but the folks chose a closer place to them, to ride it out).