Air conditioning... do you really need it?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
April 3, 2008 9:54pm CST
In our daily life, we will definitely be in some air-conditioned environment. Be it in a shopping center, or the office, or even the car you are traveling in.
In view of the earth day that everyone is preaching about, is it possible to live a day without air-conditioning?
Here in tropical Singapore, we are using the air-conditioners to cool the rooms to escape from the heat, which can be quite unbearable at times.
My father has this habit of turning on the air-conditioner and then covering a thick blanket so that he can sleep snugly in the comforts of his cold room. I am sure he is not alone in doing it.
Then in the office, the building has the habit of lowering the temperature of the air-conditioning really low... sometimes as low as 18-21 degrees celsius. And to some, that is frigging cold!
And people working in those offices are wearing really think jackets to keep the cold out.
It always gets me thinking... if you are feeling hot and bothered by the heat, I understand that you would want to turn on the air-conditioner to cool off. But after turning on the air-conditioner, you cover a blanket? Wear a jacket?
What is the purpose of turning on the air-conditioner then? 7 people like this
14 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I never understood why some people want to make it ice cold in the summer and blazing hot in the winter. My father-in-law is like this and it would drive me nuts! I can see setting the thermostat at a comfortable setting, but it makes no sense to have the AC blasting just so one can cover up in blankets to get warm.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
6 Jun 08
Precisely. AC is suppose to be what it is... air conditioning. Where you condition the air in the room where the AC is situated to a comfortable environment.
But what I see is always the extreme. Either you blast it to some freezing temperature to cover up in some thick clothing, or you blast it to some sweltering heat to wear some singlet to sweat in.
Silly... I would say. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@tonyblake (24)
• Australia
20 Aug 08
air con should be run at 23 to 24 degrees for optium performance and true comfort.unfortunately we in modern society have become accustomed to air con as a necessity.as oposed to a once luxury item in the past.air con does not give comfort or performance if turned down to cool.as you say this is uncomfortable.people are hot so they want to cool down quickly.its best to have a timer on it so it starts just before the time people are to enter the building then when they enter theywill feel comfortable
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Well here in Florida a/c is a necessity at least as far as I'm concerned. No i don't turn it on low enough to then have to cover with a blanket or wear a jacket. We are delaying putting it on at this point because of how much it jacks up our electric bill. Come the heat of the summer though it doesn't become optional at all. Between the high temperatures and humidity without a/c I'd not be able to live here at all but like I said we don't turn it down that low. We set it for 79 or 80 degrees so obviously not a low temperature; just enough to make it bearable.
@youless (112135)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Jun 08
It has been heavy rain in these days. Although there would be a few sunny days, but the temperature isn't as hot as last year. In fact I think the real summer hasn't arrived yet. So using a fan will be fine enough. I am happy to do so. As it not only saves money, but also the energy. It's good for our environment. There are already so many natural disasters because of the strange weather, so more and more people shall realize to do the right thing for our planet.
I love China
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
11 Apr 08
i don't take well to air-conditioner. when i sleep in an air-con room, i'll wake up with a slightly sore throat. natural air is the best for me, except the hottest days in a year, which is usually 2 or 3 days. only on these days i'll switch on the air-con. but it's more of the humidity rather than the heat.
honestly i find it ridiculous to switch on the air-con then use a thick blanket. a fan will do the trick just as well blowing at the head. i tried this method and it really works well in cooling the body down fast.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
10 Jun 08
You are right many people will use the air full blast for many months at a time . I don't put mine on till it is a must, when the teps are in the higher 80's . I would be one to always have the windows open because I love the fresh air and cool breeze , but durning the summer months you can forget that. I remember my old house we didnt have any and i was just feeling all yucky and sick . My clothes would stick to me and falling asleep was so hard .I think though many people over use it and do have it up way too high. I once was at my friends house and it was so could i had to use a blanket , now that was crazy .
Happy posting and stay cool !
@sreejithsreenivas (10200)
• India
4 Apr 08
Now we can see AC in many shopping centers and the usage is increasing day by day.I think it creates more business and comfort shopping.In some countries like Gulf it is very essential.Bur i dont like ac and i feel tittle uncomfortable under AC.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
4 Apr 08
The purpose of turning on your air conditioner is to cool you off from the heat outside.LOL Everyone likes their air conditioner set differently. Some people like so cold they need to put sweaters on.LOL And people like me like it comfortable. And besides who can afford to run an air conditioner to where you need blankets to keep warm?LOL Not me!hahahahahah Stay cool!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
4 Apr 08
Sure, it is quite a nice sensation - warmth under the blanket in a cold room.
Recently, perhaps due to frailty that comes with age, my preference has switched to that of using a fan.
I rather have natural air that otherwise. I also find myself irked when there is a rain - meaning I have to close the windows and so switch on the aircon.
And I have mine set at 27 deg Celsius.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Apr 08
That is really an irony... why use the aircon if you will just cover yourself with the blanket or wear thick clothes... now that it is summer... i don't always use the airconditioning in the office... i use the electric fan instead because i want to save on electricity... same is the case at home... i only turn on the AC for like three or four hours... and when the room is cool enough... we use the electric fan... save money and a little environment friendly...
@benthose (474)
• India
4 Apr 08
I live in bangalore, India, where it almost never gets above 30 C.. And Indians are usually resistant to such temperatures, which are considered high by the western world.. So I don't find it necessary to have an AC, we just have ceiling fans, which we hardly use
@bigmac101 (8)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I have to have the a/c on during the warm days here.. I can sit in a/c and sweat if its not cold enough.. I need it to be set about 74 degrees if its higher then that I begin to sweat.My wife and I fight constantly over beginning to cold.. She freezes when it set that low.. She would rather not have it on.. But I cant go without it. So she bundles up..
