Have You Hated Yourself Over Your Air Conditioning Today?

Posted on | July 5, 2010 | 68 Comments

by Smitty

If not, Salon can assist, emphasis and formatting mine:

. . .as science writer Stan Cox argues in his new book, “Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer),” the dizzying rise of air conditioning comes at a steep personal and societal price.

We stay inside longer,

exercise less, and

get sick more often — and

the electricity used to power all that A.C. is helping push the fast-forward button on global warming.

The invention has also changed American politics: Love it or hate it, refrigerated cooling has been a major boon to the Republican Party. The advent of A.C. helped launch the massive Southern and Western population growth that’s transformed our electoral map in the last half century. Cox navigates all of these scientific and social angles with relative ease, providing a clear explanation of how A.C. made the leap from luxury to necessity in the United States and examining how we can learn to manage the addiction before we refrigerate ourselves into the apocalypse.

There will be a brief pause in this post while I go outside and flagellate myself for exercise and spiritual purging.
[. . .later, washed with water at a user-selected temperature. . .]
Oh, this is great:

You’re one of the proud few without A.C. Do you find it’s possible to be comfortable in the heat of the summer without it?
Yes, I think so. A couple of weekends ago it was in the high 80s here in Kansas. I was in my living room with the ceiling fan going, and I thought, man, it’s really nice in here, so I went and got a thermometer, and it was 84 in the living room. I had an aunt who was always trying to economize and would keep her windows shut up and her air conditioning on 80 degrees, and that was utterly stifling. You just couldn’t exist in that kind of environment, but if you have no air conditioning and plenty of ventilation and air movement, it’s comfortable. Warmth in and of itself is not bad at all. It can even be quite enjoyable.

Splendid. You’ve apparently achieved an Amish situation. However, I respect their lack of condescension about their lifestyle decisions. For deeply religious folk, their lack of preaching is refreshing! But back to the reading.
One hopes this article ends with a punchline. . .score!

I have to ask, is the room you’re in right now air-conditioned?
Yes, it is.
How do you feel?
I’m a bit cold, actually. I would prefer to just open the place up, but you know, we all have co-workers. I was working outside all morning, and when I came in, the air conditioning felt good as it always does when you first go indoors, but now that I’ve been sitting here talking to you, it’s starting to get uncomfortable.

OK, Stan Cox, you capitalist swine. Good luck selling lots and lots of books–I daresay you shan’t scare up much readership in the rightosphere. Humans have always used their God-given talents to improve their environment. The rush to assign shame and politicize something like air conditioning is gross. A book on good architectural techniques for designing homes to manage heat more efficiently could build a positive case for re-applying the aforementioned intellect to minimizing power requirements an bi-products. Ah, but the Holy Guilt! Somehow I think it plays into Lefty self-esteem issues, but that’s for another blogger to pursue.

Category: Progressivism

Comments

68 Responses to “Have You Hated Yourself Over Your Air Conditioning Today?”

dustbury.com » Freon bored
July 5th, 2010 @ 6:05 pm

[…] (Via the always-cool Smitty.) […]
jefferson101
July 5th, 2010 @ 10:16 pm

Well, he may be comfortable at 84 F in Kansas. I’m not notable uncomfortable at 84 F here in L.A. (Lower Arkansas, that is.) But it’s been more than 20 degrees warmer that that several times this year already, and Summer is just getting started.

Whenever I go back to visit family in Minnesota and NW Wisconsin in high summer, they are always apologizing for how horribly hot it is. (It might break into the 90’s for a couple of hours, but they usually have no notable humidity.)

I’m sure the folks living at Barrow, Alaska don’t worry much about A/C either. But those of us in the real South? If they mess with our A/C, they are probably going to restart a war. Halftime would definitely be over, if you know what I mean.

Where do these morons who live in cold climates get off lecturing us about A/C? When I start seeing a movement to ban it in Houston, I’ll think it’s something serious. Until then…..

Heh.
jefferson101
July 5th, 2010 @ 6:16 pm

Well, he may be comfortable at 84 F in Kansas. I’m not notable uncomfortable at 84 F here in L.A. (Lower Arkansas, that is.) But it’s been more than 20 degrees warmer that that several times this year already, and Summer is just getting started.

Whenever I go back to visit family in Minnesota and NW Wisconsin in high summer, they are always apologizing for how horribly hot it is. (It might break into the 90’s for a couple of hours, but they usually have no notable humidity.)

I’m sure the folks living at Barrow, Alaska don’t worry much about A/C either. But those of us in the real South? If they mess with our A/C, they are probably going to restart a war. Halftime would definitely be over, if you know what I mean.

Where do these morons who live in cold climates get off lecturing us about A/C? When I start seeing a movement to ban it in Houston, I’ll think it’s something serious. Until then…..

Heh.
Teresa in Fort Worth, TX
July 5th, 2010 @ 10:34 pm

I vote that we turn off the AC to the House and Senate chambers and offices – maybe they would stay away and quit legislating us to death….
Teresa in Fort Worth, TX
July 5th, 2010 @ 6:34 pm

I vote that we turn off the AC to the House and Senate chambers and offices – maybe they would stay away and quit legislating us to death….
DragonHawk
July 5th, 2010 @ 10:47 pm

I live in the Inland Empire in Southern California. Deserty and hot. We go above 100 degrees in the summer a lot, and above 90 most of the time. I work from home on the computer, and I try to use the ac as little possible to keep the bill down. It is a living hell. These people have no concept of how life is like for those that don’t live exactly where they do.
DragonHawk
July 5th, 2010 @ 6:47 pm

I live in the Inland Empire in Southern California. Deserty and hot. We go above 100 degrees in the summer a lot, and above 90 most of the time. I work from home on the computer, and I try to use the ac as little possible to keep the bill down. It is a living hell. These people have no concept of how life is like for those that don’t live exactly where they do.
Old Rebel
July 5th, 2010 @ 10:52 pm

“I respect their lack of condescension about their lifestyle decisions.”

And don’t forget their lack of condensation.
Old Rebel
July 5th, 2010 @ 6:52 pm

“I respect their lack of condescension about their lifestyle decisions.”

And don’t forget their lack of condensation.
smitty
July 5th, 2010 @ 11:07 pm

@DragonHawk,
You were a target of the article. Because air conditioning exists, you are in an otherwise marginally inhabitable place. So feel bad about yourself!
smitty
July 5th, 2010 @ 7:07 pm

@DragonHawk,
You were a target of the article. Because air conditioning exists, you are in an otherwise marginally inhabitable place. So feel bad about yourself!
Rob
July 5th, 2010 @ 11:09 pm

Teresa has the genius idea…I vote for it.
Rob
July 5th, 2010 @ 7:09 pm

Teresa has the genius idea…I vote for it.
Live Free Or Die
July 5th, 2010 @ 11:25 pm

Funny, the advise given, on high heat index days(hot,humid,summer weather), is to stay indoors, in the air conditioning. And if you don’t have air conditioning, they recommend that you take shelter in public buildings that do.
Oh, and drink lots of water if you have to venture out into the heat.(Duh!)

Now I know why hippies smell bad: They refuse to air condition. 🙂
Live Free Or Die
July 5th, 2010 @ 7:25 pm

Funny, the advise given, on high heat index days(hot,humid,summer weather), is to stay indoors, in the air conditioning. And if you don’t have air conditioning, they recommend that you take shelter in public buildings that do.
Oh, and drink lots of water if you have to venture out into the heat.(Duh!)

Now I know why hippies smell bad: They refuse to air condition. 🙂
Terry in Georgia
July 5th, 2010 @ 11:48 pm

The writer of this article probably doesn’t live in an area that frequently has a heat index of 100-110 in the summer (and I’m not talking about any “dry heat” either). Living in very southern parts of Georgia most of my life, I can assure you that A/C is up there on the short list with indoor plumbing.

Recently having crossed the half-century marker, I remember when there was no air conditioning in schools. When the new school year started the first day after Labor Day, we suffered the miserable heat, and from March until June, we suffered again. In the middle of winter, we use far less heat than our neighbors to our north. Since I do not complain about your use of heating energy, I will not be ridiculed for my use of cooling energy. But you can rest comfortably in knowing that while you are using heat, I am busy conserving for later use of air conditioning.
Terry in Georgia
July 5th, 2010 @ 7:48 pm

The writer of this article probably doesn’t live in an area that frequently has a heat index of 100-110 in the summer (and I’m not talking about any “dry heat” either). Living in very southern parts of Georgia most of my life, I can assure you that A/C is up there on the short list with indoor plumbing.

Recently having crossed the half-century marker, I remember when there was no air conditioning in schools. When the new school year started the first day after Labor Day, we suffered the miserable heat, and from March until June, we suffered again. In the middle of winter, we use far less heat than our neighbors to our north. Since I do not complain about your use of heating energy, I will not be ridiculed for my use of cooling energy. But you can rest comfortably in knowing that while you are using heat, I am busy conserving for later use of air conditioning.
Ed Driscoll » Too Much Air Conditioning Makes Salon Boil Over
July 5th, 2010 @ 8:20 pm

[…] blaming air conditioning for those eeeevil center-right voters in the midwest. As Smitty writes, “Have You Hated Yourself Over Your Air Conditioning Today?” If not, Salon can assist, emphasis and formatting mine: . . .as science writer Stan Cox argues in […]
Dandapani
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:02 am

North of Tampa on the Gulf side of Florida. We keep the AC on 80 and it ranges +/- 1 degree. We need it mostly to remove the humidity. We do run our ceiling fans 24×7 nearly year round.
Dandapani
July 5th, 2010 @ 9:02 pm

North of Tampa on the Gulf side of Florida. We keep the AC on 80 and it ranges +/- 1 degree. We need it mostly to remove the humidity. We do run our ceiling fans 24×7 nearly year round.
Adobe Walls
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:06 am

We care even less how they do it in India than how they do it Europe.
Adobe Walls
July 5th, 2010 @ 9:06 pm

We care even less how they do it in India than how they do it Europe.
jefferson101
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:24 am

@gg, #9:

I’m not responsible for your political, social, or economic problems.

Should I wish a worldwide increase of 100% in the price of food on y’all? I won’t starve, and it won’t keep me from replacing my A/C unit if it breaks down.

If things get that tough, you won’t have the population that we do by the time it’s all over with. I’d hate that, honestly. But don’t be so snide. If I get hot, you’ll probably be on short rations…or not. You didn’t note whether you have A/C.

I’d suspect that you are reasonably well off, but just like to sound populist.
jefferson101
July 5th, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

@gg, #9:

I’m not responsible for your political, social, or economic problems.

Should I wish a worldwide increase of 100% in the price of food on y’all? I won’t starve, and it won’t keep me from replacing my A/C unit if it breaks down.

If things get that tough, you won’t have the population that we do by the time it’s all over with. I’d hate that, honestly. But don’t be so snide. If I get hot, you’ll probably be on short rations…or not. You didn’t note whether you have A/C.

I’d suspect that you are reasonably well off, but just like to sound populist.
Malcolm Atkinson
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:48 am

Had to do a bit o’ work in the basement today. The air conditioning had made it a bit cold down there, so I put the space heater on.
Checking conscience systems now for self-hate:
……results negative.
Malcolm Atkinson
July 5th, 2010 @ 9:48 pm

Had to do a bit o’ work in the basement today. The air conditioning had made it a bit cold down there, so I put the space heater on.
Checking conscience systems now for self-hate:
……results negative.
Erich Madden
July 6th, 2010 @ 2:43 am

I *was* quite comfortable here without the A/C on, but gg’s post made me so hot under the collar that I had to go turn the A/C on full blast. It’s all in a days work for us Western Eco-Talibans.
Erich Madden
July 5th, 2010 @ 10:43 pm

I *was* quite comfortable here without the A/C on, but gg’s post made me so hot under the collar that I had to go turn the A/C on full blast. It’s all in a days work for us Western Eco-Talibans.
blaster
July 6th, 2010 @ 3:18 am

I believe that AC was introduced to the Capitol building a LONG time ago, and that allowed them to work through the summer.

This is a bad thing.
blaster
July 5th, 2010 @ 11:18 pm

I believe that AC was introduced to the Capitol building a LONG time ago, and that allowed them to work through the summer.

This is a bad thing.
Roxeanne de Luca
July 6th, 2010 @ 4:40 am

While I’m not a fan of the way that people turn the A/C to 65 degrees, so that you freeze your butt off indoors (and thus have to dress for “freaking hot” and “sort of cold”), these people are insane.

I live in a house that was built in the 19th century. I’m online at this hour because I am desperately, desperately trying to find a place that is open 24 hours and sells window A/C units, because it’s almost 90 outside and I’m HOT.

Not “hot” in a “Rule 5” way, mind you, but “hot” as in “Boston is getting the heat wave straight from Dante’s inferno and I WANT AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE WE’VE MOVED BEYOND THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, YOU DOUGH-BRAINED MORON”.
Roxeanne de Luca
July 6th, 2010 @ 12:40 am

While I’m not a fan of the way that people turn the A/C to 65 degrees, so that you freeze your butt off indoors (and thus have to dress for “freaking hot” and “sort of cold”), these people are insane.

I live in a house that was built in the 19th century. I’m online at this hour because I am desperately, desperately trying to find a place that is open 24 hours and sells window A/C units, because it’s almost 90 outside and I’m HOT.

Not “hot” in a “Rule 5” way, mind you, but “hot” as in “Boston is getting the heat wave straight from Dante’s inferno and I WANT AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE WE’VE MOVED BEYOND THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, YOU DOUGH-BRAINED MORON”.
Estragon
July 6th, 2010 @ 5:29 am

Salon: Doing the Hard Work of Keeping Stupid Ideas Alive.

Pol Pot didn’t like air conditioning either – at least, for the masses.
Estragon
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:29 am

Salon: Doing the Hard Work of Keeping Stupid Ideas Alive.

Pol Pot didn’t like air conditioning either – at least, for the masses.
Dave C
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:09 pm

I hope you guys have a HOT summer! May your older ACs break down in above normal temperatures! May your power grid break down on heavy loads during peak summer!

Welcome to third-world weather!

Where is the love and the tolerance?
Dave C
July 6th, 2010 @ 9:09 am

I hope you guys have a HOT summer! May your older ACs break down in above normal temperatures! May your power grid break down on heavy loads during peak summer!

Welcome to third-world weather!

Where is the love and the tolerance?
Dave C
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:17 pm

Anyway.. For those of you who do not like AC better unplug your refrigerator. Exact same principle.

You’re killing the planet by keeping your milk and eggs fresh.
Dave C
July 6th, 2010 @ 9:17 am

Anyway.. For those of you who do not like AC better unplug your refrigerator. Exact same principle.

You’re killing the planet by keeping your milk and eggs fresh.
Carol
July 6th, 2010 @ 1:57 pm

Dave C, I hate air conditioning despite living in Florida. However, I respect that others are miserable without it and I don’t make it my business to tell others how to live. As for the fridge, the heck with the eggs and milk, I want my beer cold!
Carol
July 6th, 2010 @ 9:57 am

Dave C, I hate air conditioning despite living in Florida. However, I respect that others are miserable without it and I don’t make it my business to tell others how to live. As for the fridge, the heck with the eggs and milk, I want my beer cold!
Oxbay
July 6th, 2010 @ 2:20 pm

Here in Mississippi my electric bill is higher in the winter than it is in the summer. We have central air and central heat. Would Cox deprive himself and his family from heating his home during the winter months? Why not?
Oxbay
July 6th, 2010 @ 10:20 am

Here in Mississippi my electric bill is higher in the winter than it is in the summer. We have central air and central heat. Would Cox deprive himself and his family from heating his home during the winter months? Why not?
Bob Belvedere
July 6th, 2010 @ 10:59 am

Another Roxeanne classic to be saved for the biography after she becomes President.

ROXEANNE DE LUCA FOR PRESIDENT:
She’ll Kick Ass And Take Names!

Watch out gg: that whooshing sound you will hear behind you one morning will be a nuke heading straight for your mouth, er, butt [same thing], courtesy of the De Luca Administration [Bob Belvedere, Secretary Of War].
Bob Belvedere
July 6th, 2010 @ 2:59 pm

Another Roxeanne classic to be saved for the biography after she becomes President.

ROXEANNE DE LUCA FOR PRESIDENT:
She’ll Kick Ass And Take Names!

Watch out gg: that whooshing sound you will hear behind you one morning will be a nuke heading straight for your mouth, er, butt [same thing], courtesy of the De Luca Administration [Bob Belvedere, Secretary Of War].
Fisk Me Once And Fisk Me Twice And Fisk Me Once Again « The Camp Of The Saints
July 6th, 2010 @ 11:45 am

[…] Bravo, Smitty. Please do take the time to click here and enjoy it all in the comfort of your air conditioned office…. […]
Ben (The Tiger)
July 6th, 2010 @ 4:25 pm

Nah, AC helps the big government types.

Lets legislatures stay in session longer — and you know what happens to people with idle hands…
Ben (The Tiger)
July 6th, 2010 @ 12:25 pm

Nah, AC helps the big government types.

Lets legislatures stay in session longer — and you know what happens to people with idle hands…
John A
July 6th, 2010 @ 8:38 pm

So he’s comfy at 84F in, presumably, a dry climate subset: would he feel the same at a New York dock warehouse with 98% humidity?

Well, maybe. While I am uncomfortably warm at over 78F here in Rhode Island (basiclly a small horseshoe-shaped bit of land surrounding a deepwater bay), one of my sisters complains of cold at that temperature. OTOH, I was comfy at 107F in Las Vegas, as long as I was in shade.

As to it being responsible for a change in which party is in the majority, major Bronx Cheer. Where is the influx from? Northeasterners – you know, New York, Massachusetts, and all those other Republican-dominated States?
John A
July 6th, 2010 @ 4:38 pm

So he’s comfy at 84F in, presumably, a dry climate subset: would he feel the same at a New York dock warehouse with 98% humidity?

Well, maybe. While I am uncomfortably warm at over 78F here in Rhode Island (basiclly a small horseshoe-shaped bit of land surrounding a deepwater bay), one of my sisters complains of cold at that temperature. OTOH, I was comfy at 107F in Las Vegas, as long as I was in shade.

As to it being responsible for a change in which party is in the majority, major Bronx Cheer. Where is the influx from? Northeasterners – you know, New York, Massachusetts, and all those other Republican-dominated States?
Don't Really Like Lefties
July 6th, 2010 @ 9:38 pm

I’m lowering my thermostat to about 65 degrees and putting on sweats just at the hope these idiots will read this and be annoyed.