18
votes
The warmer it gets, the more we use air conditioning. The more we use air conditioning, the warmer it gets. Is there any way out of this trap?
Link information
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- Title
- The air conditioning trap: how cold air is heating the world
- Authors
- Stephen Buranyi
- Published
- Aug 29 2019
- Word count
- 4498 words
One major problem is building design. For example, old houses in the Southeast US have many design features that limit sunlight (which brings heat), encourage air flow, and create a more bearable inside environment without AC. In the Southwest, you'd find old homes made of thick clay that absorbs heat and keeps the inside cool during the day, but radiates heat during the cold desert night. Air-conditioning and economics have encouraged builders to throw up a few standardized type of designs, and zoning laws don't really allow for a lot of wiggle room in residential designs. They're relatively cheap to build, but not well suited for every environment.
well, it would certainly help to
This. I would love for central air (and forced air heating) and solar panels to become mandatory in all new construction.
Here in the western US, central air conditioning is not a requirement but is practically a standard; you can find it in just about any building. The units they install typically are capable of both heating and cooling.
While solar is not mandated, there are quite a lot of energy efficiency requirements for all new construction. For instance, in California you can't install any lighting fixture that uses Edison screw bases anymore, specifically because that is the only way you can buy incandescent light bulbs. There are also many regulations regarding insulation specifically so you can run your AC more efficiently.
I just moved to Texas where central air is standard, and it doesn't help nearly as much as you think. First, there's typically only a single temperature sensor for the entire house, nor is there any ability to turn on/off vents to a room according to their temperature; the whole system is either on or it's off. Second, the control loop on the thermostat is garbage, I find my air will often cycle on and off in 20 minute intervals, even if the house is perfectly comfortable; a PI loop?? What is this black magic! Third, the central air system itself is a pretty poor way of cooling the house as it leads to localized (very) cold areas underneath the vents that diffuse out to the surrounding areas.
I'm all for replacing window units, but can we please get a central air system that wasn't designed in 1950?
Even better is constructing buildings where AC isn't needed, ie, build down, instead of up.
I'm a fan of "get outside, year round, as often as possible, and do things" as a solution.
Humans can survive quite well, in very hot temperatures, given proper acclimation.
Also, this derisive attitude about "sweat", ie "Ew, I don't want to sweat!"
Sweating isn't a bad thing. It's your body's cooling system.
Another huge thing is we need to encourage more people to maintain a healthy weight. I know the difference between summers while obese/overweight were far more uncomfortable than summers while a healthy weight. The "getting outside and doing more" helps this too, in addition to becoming more acclimated.
I was outside in Iraq, during the summer, without AC.
And yes, the work/rest cycle is key, along with drinking water.
You don't want everywhere to be a desert, sure.
Bedouins have done it for a millenia. And very few places in the US (Especially the North East) are desert climates.
So the solution boils down to: Live where it's comfortable for most of the time, and when it stops being comfortable most of the time, move.
Well, that, and dramatically reduce the human population.
It's getting to the point that we need to choose to eschew some modern convienences, in order to be sustainable, though.
We can do both, without AC.
This much is true. Because there's no way around it: People should live where it's most acceptable conditions to live, rather than trying to terraform little bubbles of 70 deg F air everywhere.
AC isn't going to go away any time soon, I'm afraid. I've lived in the desert in the US for most of my life, and nearly every building is air conditioned. Homes, businesses, schools, government buildings; the only buildings you're likely to find without air conditioning is manufacturing and distribution warehouses, where they are constantly open to the outside during business hours.
So imagine, for a moment, you are trying to acclimate your body to the extreme heat in summer. Are you going to avoid going to work because they have AC there? Are you going to skip going to the grocery stores or restaurants? Are you going to stop your kids from going to school?
Or what about if we go about this the other way. Are schools going to stop using AC even though that means they will have to be liable for heat-related injuries? Are businesses going to let their most important workers move to businesses that will provide AC as a benefit?
And what about the people who are overweight - especially if it's caused by medical problems. Are we just going to lock them in their houses because they can't adapt to the heat?
Yes, but the kinds of heat the Northeast is finding itself in is lending to "not sweating" heat. That's bad.
I live in the Northeast (I assume you mean US). It's humid, to be sure, more so than typical. But, as long as you drink water/electrolytes, dress appropriately, and seek out shade, you're generally going to be fine.
I did 120 deg F heat every day of summer for a while. In long sleeve, heavy shirts, while working outdoors (desert). I survived. I've also done 90 Deg F, with 80% humidity (Jungle). You're fine, once you acclimate to it. Which means you need to actually expose yourself to it. Not seek shelter in AC at every chance.
Humans are quite adaptable. You don't need AC. But, it does require a culture shift.
Part of what makes humans so adaptable is our ability to integrate technology into our lives.
I watched my active, fit roommate pass out from heat exhaustion while changing a tire. That was fun. Summers in the NE US[1] are not just nasty, but capricious... it's hard to adjust to the heat when the temperatures fluctuate rapidly.
[1] I do often forget to note my country (bad American! No cookie/biscuit for you!), but to be fair I've never seen anyone other than an American refer to part of their country as "the NE", "the South", "the West Coast", etc.
True, we can integrate technology into our lives.
Integrating AC into our lives is a bad move, that was moved to being used in excess, to the detriment of our planet.
I bet your active, fit roommate still spend most of the day in an air conditioned building?
After being in the heat left him unconscious and dehydrated? It seemed like a good idea, yes.
No, I mean prior to the event. And, he was dehydrated? Well, that explains it. I think I had said,"And consume water and electrolytes" as being a requirement here :)
Yes, being in the heat (and sweating out the liquid that had been taken in) generally leads to dehydration.
Well, combined with not consuming liquids to replace lost liquids...
I heard Japanese businesses now require workers to wear short sleeves and no jackets during summer months. It’s a start.