AC is for wussies
As we heat up our atmosphere in our attempt to escape heat, Kelli B. Kavanaugh ponders the wastefulness of air conditioning.
I will admit to having central air. Typically, I set the thermostat to begin cooling at 78 degrees, which I always thought made me pretty environmentally conscious. But when my AC went out during a particularly humid and nasty few days, I realized my addiction to it. I was hooked, I was hot, I was cranky.
But it made me think about my habit and yes, I survived without it. And now, I am proudly off the AC teat. (And yes, I am sweating as we speak, but in a very dainty, ladylike way.)
Why is it bad? The Land Institute has calculated that air-conditioning the average U.S. home requires 3,400 pounds of carbon-dioxide production per year. There’s a lot more info in this eye-opening article by William Saletan on Slate . We’re actually heating up the atmosphere with our attempts to escape the heat. Ug.
So, how do you survive without AC? Open your windows. Install ceiling fans (of course, make sure they are EnergyStar rated). Dress for the weather. Drink lots of water. Eat light. Plant trees in your yard for shade.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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