Air-conditioning indoors and out
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
May 17, 2019 12:51am CST
While in Qatar on a bus tour, our guide took as to ‘Lafayette’ which is apparently modelled on the upmarket French department store chain. Wiki –know-everthing says it operates in a number of other locations so whether it’s a ‘real’ Lafayette or they’ve just borrowed the name I’m not sure.
Because of the extreme temperatures, air-conditioning seems a given but at Lafayette they’ve carried the idea to new heights, although it might be more accurate to call the ‘lows’. There are grilles in the ground which pump out cool air and massive outdoor fans so even the outside temperature is kept to a very comfortable level.
This area is (I think) the main underground train station which is very new too.
In the photo, you can see our guide pointing to the grid. The area is beautifully decorated but I’ll write more about them another time and include a collage of photos.
18 people like this
18 responses
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
17 May 19
Outdoor air conditioning? That seems totally crazy - and you wonder whether our efforts to combat climate change are going to have any effect in the face of this sort of wanton energy use elsewhere! It would be far better if they just planted some trees! Provide shade, cool the air, remove particulate pollution and sequester carbon (instead of producing more carbon dioxide) as well. But I know it's no use lecturing about it here!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
17 May 19
@Fleura You are so right, this is something that is not going to help to combat climate change. The more air conditioners they are going to install, the hotter the external temperature will get. I pity those with no money for air conditioning in those countries.
3 people like this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
18 May 19
It all looks so clean and decorated. But i guess it is hot as hell, am i right? :(
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May 19
@jvicentevalera Even the nights can be very hot.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
19 May 19
@JudyEv I totally understand that. I would be in the room with the air conditioning the whole day. LOL
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (40946)
• Philippines
17 May 19
Wow that is nice. I wish they could be applied in my place where the outside is cooler as well despite the sun outside. But I doubt the power consumption for such. I think it cannot be a practical solution in my place because of the cost of electricity it entails.
2 people like this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
17 May 19
Don't forget that using power to cool the air outdoors temporarily, will release more carbon dioxide, increasing global warming and so increasing temperatures over the long term, meaning more air conditioning will be needed, increasing temperatures, meaning more air conditioning will be needed, increasing temperatures... you get the idea?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
18 May 19
That's Middle East for you - everything they do they do it in style.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
17 May 19
wow! that's gotta be some spendy operation they've got goin' there, eh?
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
18 May 19
@JudyEv ah, wasteful folks who'll one day no doubt regret certain decisions.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
17 May 19
Wow outdoor air conditioning..the next big thing?? lol.
2 people like this
@topffer (42155)
• France
20 May 19
It is a "real" Galeries Lafayette, they have shops in Dubai, Qatar, Koweit, Turkey, etc. I am ashamed of reading that a French business does such a waste of energy while they should fight climate change. I will not put a foot anymore in their shops !
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
17 May 19
Outdoor air conditioning would be nice
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
17 May 19
Wow, that's great; air conditioning even outside the buildings!
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
17 May 19
sounds really interesting - thanks for keeping us moving along with your trip!!!
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
17 May 19
I'm sure it's nice to have outside air conditioning so that you aren't sweltering in the heat. Pretty ambiance with all the lights lit
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
17 May 19
I have been to Galleries Lafayette in Paris. This place wants to keep customers in cool buying mode.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May 19
Qatar was very hot but France is much more temperate.
