Seasons and Comfort
In India we had four seasons just like we do here in the US, but the range of outside temperature is not very wide. Well, some areas have freezing temps but most of the time we would have temperatures ranging from 35 degrees F going up to may be 108 degrees F. depending on the part of India. In winter time we would generally wear cold creams to keep our faces from chill bites and use space heaters or may be a fire place. In Summer the rich would have air conditioners and air coolers and the general public would sweat and get sticky. Whatever the situation would be people did not complain. Our Economics professor told us that it is good to complain and ask for more as that gives entrepreneurs a chance to invest in inventions that make the public happy. Still people were just glad that they had what they had and were not about to risk losing resources.
We are in the US now. A lot of times we were told that we are careful with money or that we are used to suffering just because I do not believe in using the air conditioner until the cold air freezes our bones. That is fine. I am too old to worry about people's opinions. I know that when I am careful with the use of electricity it is not just to save money but to save a very good resource. I guess some of our neighbors or even people at work forget that there is a difference between comfort and abuse. I understand that some people at work feel the need of bone chilling cold air and ignore the fact that some of us will not stop sneezing or even wheezing as they cannot take the cold. So we wear winter sweaters and manage. I always wondered if the same people over use the air conditioners at home. I guess I got my answer three weeks ago when I heard in the news on the radio in my car that there was a fire in one of the buildings in a garden apartment complex in Orange County. The possible cause of the fire they said was an over heated air conditioner unit.. Last night we heard very loud Sirens and I hope that it was not a fire engine because the people from the fire three weeks ago are still in temporary housing. 
24 comments:
There is a tragic irony in keeping one's house so cold it catches fire. A good cautionary post, Munir.
I am adjusting all of my thermostats right now. I keep my home much too cold and have been very over indulgent of late. Now I must get things back in control. Thank you for a timely post before I catch my house on fire:)
We are in a very hot climate here, and although I am thankful for the air conditioning, overdoing it is not good, either.
I never understand why people keep it freezing in the summer and overheated in the winter. We don't even have air conditioning at our high-elevation house.
This is some very good advice and info. We never turn our air conditioner on unless it gets unbearable and that's got to be pretty hot. I grew up without an air conditioner and I can weather the storm so to speak. I don't like going in people's homes and freezing and I surely don't like it at work. Thank you for the kind words on mine. Blessings.
Well I have asthma really bad and I thank God for a/c - I can never open my windows. I don't think I have it bone chilling. You are a cool gal. sandie
I like a/c when the heat and humidity get unbearable..but the windows open are my fav way to go. We heat with wood in winter. If everyone would do just a little, we can make big changes.
Extreme climates are difficult to manage through. We should use our resources judiciously!
Hi Munir .. it's difficult to adjust sometimes to others homes or spaces at work etc ..
I hate to be stuffy and clogged up - so I'm like you - I try and be practical with my electricity and put on more clothes if necessary ...
I used to get really cold, then it was time to go and visit my mother and I'd warm up in the Nursing Centre!! One way of saving money!!
Cheers Hilary
When it is super hot, I just need my A/C... I don't leave it running 24/7... I actually turn it off when it becomes too cold...
So I am back Munir... I am still working some things out, I have missed blogging though and reading blogs... It is nice to be back :)
Hi Munir,
We don't even have AC in our home. We live in an old Spanish style home and the walls are so thick that in the summer it stays very cool, however, in the winter it's very cold. We heat up with the fireplace and blankets. You are absolutely right on all that you say about the AC's. Hugs...Lu
I don't know how people could manage without heaters and AC. I guess I'm spoiled in that sense because I'd abuse that at any given opportunity.
I much prefer autumn and winter temps. I love having a slightly cold house, as weird as that may sound. You can always bundle up and get warmer! But if it's hot, there's only so many clothes you can take off before things get awkward.
I always have the a/c on these days, but in the past I've lived in airy homes with great ventilation and I'd go without a/c for hours a day.
Hi Munir,
Being in England, air conditioning is basically an alien concept. Although considering we've been experiencing some very hot temperatures, I still would not use air conditioning, that's even if I had it available.
Thank you for this post, Munir.
Gary
The weather has not been as hot here in Alabama this year. We've had a great deal of rain and oceans of humidity (as our weatherman described it).
Our heatwave seems to be over, now.
I think in England, most of our money is spent on heating in the Winter time. It must be awful not to be able to afford to put it on though. No one has air conditioning in the Summer because we don't usually get very hot Summers that go on a long time.
I think most countries seem to have their own problems caused through the weather.
Maggie x
Nuts in May
Dearest Munir,
Very good post! Yes, in many ways people tend to be so wasteful of our energy sources. They act like they're the only one on the planet and don't care about the future.
We have air conditioning in Georgia, of course but we don't use it to freeze in summer. Only a setting of 78°F as the AC has a dual function, also removing the humidity from the outside air. So that creates a much healthier environment for people that suffer from Asthma, Bronchitis or even Rheumatism. Most people don't fully understand that and it is important for keeping your settings like that instead of going up and down. Cooling too low and than turning the AC off is not smart.
We also reason that when it is around 100°F outside you don't want to come into some 60s or even 70s environment. Than the shock is too big and not healthy for the body to adjust. Many offices, restaurants and public buildings use their settings like they want to preserve perishable foods in a refrigerator. Especially when you have to dress formal, you ARE freezing to death. Stupid customs and people should become a lot more energy conscious.
Hugs to you,
Mariette
In my opinion it is difficult to appreciate things we have grown accustomed to unless we experience different. If I never knew poverty as I did in my youth I would not know what it felt like to sometimes go hungry or without basic needs in life. We did however grow up with an abundance of love, this I never take for granted as I know how quick it can be removed from our lives. Even though I grew up on poverty I find myself sometimes taking for granted things such as electricity, gas to warm myself in the winter and a roof over my head... sometimes I have to stop and give thanks for these things and remind myself that not all of us are so blessed in life. I don't have an air conditioner, but I do have a fan which requires electricity. I don't feel the need for AC as I can't justify spending that much money for something I might use one month a year, and this is in a good year! Living in Alberta it's more of a furnace province with long cold winters.
Thank you for the gentle reminder of what I have to be grateful for in my life.
I live in Canada in the Pacific Northwest where it does get hot but not many people own air conditioners because it is not hot for ling periods of time. Heat on the other hands does get abused. I often go into other people's home and am sweating within minutes. At home we keep our house cool and wear socks and sweaters.
I guess we all get complacent and forget about the need to conserve.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I am with you on this. The great thing about summer is that it is finally warm enough to open the. doors and windows!
How ironic is that? Keeping a place so cold you cause fire? Yeah, some places have air conditioning set to freeze - I hate that! Sometimes air conditioning can save a life, but surely people must realize that the extreme changes from intense heat to cold can be very hard on most people.
What is uncomfortable at keeping a summer room at 75 degrees with your A/C? The unit cycles on and off and dehumidifies at that temp.
What is wrong with keeping a winter room at 62 degrees, it is not hard to use more clothes to retain warmth and pipes will not freeze?
I do not understand the need for excessive consumption either. I don't think humans have become that weak, only spoiled by too much self willed comfort.
Wonderful post. So sorry to hear about the displaced people. We keep our house fairly cool when it is really hot, but it isn't hot here that much. In the winter, the long very cold Iowa winter, we dress warmer and use lap blanket. Plus we have fireplaces.
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