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Home > Blogs > Chatterbox > Archives > 2010 > July > 22 > Entry
Could you live without air-conditioning?
A recent column in the Washington Post said that Americans rely far too much on air-conditioning. Except for health reasons during severe heat waves, it said, we should open some windows, let kids play outside, get to know the neighbors and enjoy much lower energy bills, all while helping the environment. Could you live without air-conditioning?
JODI NIX, Beavercreek: “No, because I’m a middle-aged woman about to go through menopause, and I’d be grumpy.”
TRACY VOGEL, Bellbrook: “I hate air-conditioning, because I’m always cold. I’d rather have the windows open, even in the heat and humidity, and just turn on fans. As long as air is moving, I’m fine.”
BRANDON NELSON, Beavercreek: “Capital N-O. Mainly because no breeze runs through my apartment, only hot, steaming air. Air-conditioning is the only way I don’t sweat myself to sleep.”
JIM COPPERSMITH, Dayton: “No, I can’t. Once you’ve had it, you’re pretty much spoiled, and it’s hard to go back. And that’s what I do for a living — installing and repairing air-conditioning — so it pays my bills.”
BEN HAWS, Dayton: “I could live without it, but I work with a lot of seniors, and they have to have the air-conditioning for health reasons.”
JOANIE RAUCH, Bellbrook: “I couldn’t live without air-conditioning, but I do try to be a good steward. I can take heat, but not the humidity. When it’s humid, that’s when I turn the air-conditioner on.”
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Culture/Society, Technology
Comments
By PAMELA
July 22, 2010 12:50 AM | Link to this
I am going to be very honest, heck NO I couldn’t live with out some sort of air conditioning. When it’s humid, I can sweat buckets sitting still haha
By Richard
July 22, 2010 3:58 AM | Link to this
I have a window unit, and have not turned it on for three years. I have shade tress to the south, a big patio door, I close most of the drapes, drink really cold beer, cook with the microwave instead of the range, and think about the people who lived here before air conditioning was invented. Works for me.
By Carrier
July 22, 2010 5:02 AM | Link to this
Our homes in Dayton and Kettering during the 60’s & 70’s were not air conditioned. I don’t remember being uncomfortable then as a child and a teen. Our cars were not air conditioned. When I left home for the military in 1971, everything changed. I ended up in the southern U.S., Vietnam, and then rotated home to the western U.S. in the desert. Seems the older I got, the more I liked A/C. As Pamela said, I also can sweat buckets sitting still. Yes, I can live without A/C, but being spoliled by it, and not having it, makes me one sweatty/crabby camper.
By Sid
July 22, 2010 6:26 AM | Link to this
Yes I could live without it for now and don’t have it. I love to hear the birds sing in the morning for they seem so happy to see the start of each day. I love the fresh air. I would rather be outside year round working in my yard or garden with sweat dripping off my nose than being cooped up in the house freezing during the winter. I live in the country where there is a good breeze coming through my windows and I don’t get the heat from the buildings and streets. I run a fan during the day but mainly for my dog. I sleep comfortably at night though without a fan. After experiencing first hand I can understand people who have hot flashes and night sweats really need it. Thank God mine passed. I think people do get spoiled by it though and understand that a lot need it for health issues when the humidity is so bad. I fear someday I might be one of those people. The down side is that people forget when they do have it that not everybody does. So they are neglectful of the noise of their yapping dogs or allow their kids to run up and down the road on four wheelers or go carts.
By don't need it
July 22, 2010 6:49 AM | Link to this
Never had it, never will.
By Kerri
July 22, 2010 8:29 AM | Link to this
With the medication I take and the health issues I have, there’s not a lot of choice in the matter. Unfortunately, we only have a window unit in the living room, so I spend most of my time there, and even with the A/C on high and a fan blowing on me as well, I still sweat. Being too warm, humidity or not, makes me physically ill.
By Bo Peep
July 22, 2010 9:15 AM | Link to this
I would love to sleep with the windows open and I do, but only in the winter. Due to health issues, I have to keep the house locked up tight in the summer and the AC going to keep air moving in side.
By steve
July 22, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this
Obviously we would all die with out AC. That is what killed the dinosaurs. What was/is a luxury has now become a requirement in life. We spend way too much time indoors due to the AC and people don’t go outside as much as they once did. Funny how we now have more overweight people, diabetes, and unhealthy people as we sit on our backside enjoying our AC.
By cranked
July 22, 2010 9:21 AM | Link to this
Ohio’s just too hot and horrendously humid in the summer. I set the central a/c so it’s always at least 70, and I plan to pay higher electric bills as a result. In my mind a/c in the summer is just as important as heat is in the winter.