Forums > Social Discussion > Air conditioning, global warming and the American *cough* Western way

This is a rant more than a debate. For more focused global warming threads please use the ones already available, this is just for the air-conners and inspired by Doc Lightnings Too Darned Hot thread in Social Chat. A thread I was surprised to read after reading this quote from the Doc himself



 Written by: Doc Lightning 11th Dec 03



Whether you believe that global warming is happening as dramatically as some would have us believe, you cannot ignore the fact that we have been pulling a lot of extra carbon out of the ground and reintroducing it into the biosphere. In the mean time, we are destroying ecosystems that could help to buffer that excess carbon.



We can't undo what we've done. That carbon we've introduced is going to stick around for millions of years. But we can slow, and eventually stop our use of fossilized carbon for fuel and start using renewable sources





Now this isn't a pop at the Doc, he's lovely, it's just an example that even those who are environmentally aware still put their own convenience before reducing their global impact. Something I am also guilty of



And this isn't just about our lovely Yankie doodle dandy friends over in the New World, but their excessive use of global energy for short term national (read personal) benefit is unrivalled.



I'd like to say I love america(n's) so it's nothing personal, raised a certain way you know no better (yes that is my tongue firmly wedged in my cheek)



So on with the post



I have a problem with Air Con, infact with most things that pollute the earth but especially air con. Even tho I have it in my car (not by choice) I only really use it if it's been sat in the sun for a few hours (in public so the windows/sunroof were closed) and I need to reduce the 50degree heat so my <1yo son can get into it. If I have a few minutes spare I will open the windows/sunroof and vent as much heat as possible without the unnatural intervention of aircon.



Our world is increasing it's average temperature faster than it ever has before. Regardless of natural cycles in weather patterns the rate of increase is far far more rapid than has ever been recorded in recent years (hundreds since records began) or proven by science over the past few millenia.

When the temp goes up so many people like to crank their air con up, in America the annual Gasoline (Petrol) consumption JUST to run vehicle air con units is equal to Indonesia's total oil consumption!!! Now seeing as Indonesia has 245m people and America has only 50m more at 295m there is an obvious and astounding imbalance.

How can indonesia, and indeed the rest of the world prior to Willis Haviland's 1902 invention, survive the heat so well without it when so many in present day think they need it just to be slightly more comfortable or because "they just can't take it" *puts back of hand to forehead and mock faints onto a sofa* regardless of the severly high carbon output from these heat transferring environmental disasters.



I agree there is a place for air con; some surgeries; essential equipment cooling etc but it's far far less than the amount we use.

50 years ago there was barely a demand, now the demand has been conveniently created by the sellers of these devices the world is being driven even further into long term environmental chaos in return for very very short term benefits and profiteering.



Ultimately air con is self propogating; leaving an air con building and entering 30 degree heat makes it feel more like 40 degrees. Once you've crossed the road to the deli or dohnut shop you're back into air con and appreciating is because "it's so damn hot outside" and so the cycle continues. After growing in this world it's easy to understand that so many people think they can't survive without it, if only they'd think outside the box a little, or even just think a little and realise what huge damage is being caused for our and our future generations in return for such miniscule personal benefit.



I'm no saint myself, I have a carbon footprint far bigger than it should be and I work everyday to try to reduce it. Born into a western capitalist world I need certain tools to survive daily life, I also know no better, but I'm trying my best to live in harmony with mother nature and reduce my carbon consumption every day. After all she's the boss, I'm just a little bug that lives on her, if I kill her I won't have anywhere to live any more



The modern use of comfort air con as apposed to process air con is bascially fuelled by economy. Putting the profit penny before the health of the world, it's sick.



If you have time please read THIS article. It's quite long but very well written and detailed.



I don't really expect many replies to this thread, but feel free to rant against the airconners with me if you want to If anyone feels they can justify their house hold or workplace (ie office not process) air con please do so, I'd like to hear it.



[/rant]

Let's relight this forum

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]

Yeah ok fair enough, even if it was in a different threa I can admit my error there



The first part was all meant in a more sarcastic tone, sorry. I do mean most (erm...all) global capitalism. Japan, Europe and America are all to blame for turning the rest of the world into what it is and after all we did 'create' America once we nabbed it off the native peoples.



"The American Way" is a common analogy here, it's always meant tongue in cheek when talking comically (sp?) about wasteful consumption and obviously not all that common a sarcastic phrase IN America.



The second part about the AC I stand by what I said and if you think that blame or criticism counts as America Bashing I think you're being over sensitive and taking it very personally. As I'm sure I saw you write somewhere you didn't vote for GWB, and I doubt you're old enough to have been there at the beginning of it all either so don't count yourself as part of the cited cause of the spread of AC around the globe if you know you aren't part of it



So with some resolve....can we get back on topic or start a new one on America bashing perhaps? I can then proclaim my innocence in everything in a whole new thread

Let's relight this forum

There is a slight possibility that I am not actually right all of the time.

For me using air con for comfort when you could quite easily survive living at 35 degrees is not justified where as central heating when it's less than 5 degrees and could cause you many health problems and deteriorate the condition of your house etc is justified.
No matter how relatively efficient the air con machine is it's still infinately more pollutant to manufacture the units and then run them compared to not having them at all and just living in normality.

on the solar panels

Let's relight this forum

There is a slight possibility that I am not actually right all of the time.

You aren't thinking or really existing unless you're willing to risk even your own sanity in the judgment of your existence.

Green peppers, lime pickle and whole-grain mustard = best sandwich filling.

 Written by: Dunc



For me using air con for comfort when you could quite easily survive living at 35 degrees is not justified where as central heating when it's less than 5 degrees and could cause you many health problems and deteriorate the condition of your house etc is justified.







I guess the 20 New Yorkers that died in the latest blackout were just not trying. Typical Lazy Americans.



On topic, I was thinking about this and I think there's also a big difference between night-time temperatures. 'Hot' places like Los Angeles don't have AC as commonly because it cools off every night.



There's a huge difference between 35C at noon and 35C at midnight. As someone who just lived through 'the hottest UK summer in history' I can assure you, it's not hot ANYWHERE in the UK at midnight. I remember as a kid sleeping without AC in New York and it was way horrible.



Heh, just peeked at the weather and at midnight tonight it will feel like 33C in Miami and only 21C in LA. Compare that to an Average summer low of 12C in London and 10C in Edinburgh.

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]

-Mike )'(
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella

"A buckuht 'n a hooze!" -Valura

Just to keep this from everyone slagging people with central heating off in turn - before central heating got common in "cold" countries people were dying from the cold, too, or getting pneumonia etc... again we're mostly talking old people/sick people/children. But I don't think slagging each other off with "noone dies from xyz" helps the debate

I remember arguing with NYC about the cold winter in New York because for me it just wasn't cold enough to complain

By the way, it's also a lot to do with what you're used to! I know many people here who've actually been unwell from the UK heatwave, just because their body isn't adjusted to it. I had a reputation in Germany for being uncomfortable with the heat and I'm fine here, but for someone who's used to 12�C nights a few nights at 20�C can be quite straining, too.

"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)

Owner of Dragosani's left half

"beg beg grovel beg grovel"
"master"
--FSA

"There was an arse there, i couldn't help myself"
--Rougie