Can we Americans live without AC?

Question

I read a news article some time ago that the Japanese government requested that businesses keep their thermostats at 80-82 degrees F to conserve energy. Would we be able to do this?

Yes, I am completely and utterly daft. You caught me.

I would like to add that I live in Florida, if that changes anything.

Answer 1

Obviously, it is possible; we did without air conditioning for several hundred thousand years of human evolution. But I certainly would not want to. People work much more efficiently if they are comfortable, and for this alone AC is worth having. But it is not essential: I live near Seattle, and the climate is such that I do not need it for my house. But if I did need it (i.e., lived almost anywhere else in the country) I would get it.

Answer 2

If you want to get fresh and saving energy. There are some ways to get on. but I'll tell you the best: When the hot is starting up and you need to be comfortable in home turn AC on, after get it warm, switch the thermostat at maximum level and feel on, at the middle of the room where you are, when the temperature reaches the best for yours, switch the thermostat back slowly till the cooler is off. Give a tolerance to therm, this is the controller which maintain the room in the temp you just pre-selected.

Answer 3

Not in Atlanta, we couldn't.

As for the Japanese government (rolls eyes), this is small potatoes next to some of their stupid suggestions...such as, trying to raise the birth rate by allowing Viagra to pass their equivalent of the FDA in a matter of months, while, as of 2001, the only birth control pill available was the high-dosage pill (which we have pretty much abandoned), and telling Japanese women how dangerous birth control pills are.

But, I digress.

Anyway, since A/C hardly can be said to exist in Japan (most homes don't have it; those that do have the equivalent of weak window units, and homes are seriously under-insulated), I doubt many people will notice.

I am so glad ...SO glad...to be back in the U.S., and will run my A/C as cold as I please. I want frost on the windows. That goes for my car, too.

Answer 4

I guess that would depend on where in America you live. The southwest and very humid areas would certainly be worse, but some places would notice less. And think about it, before there were air conditioners, people still lived everywhere in America. It was even customary 100 years ago to wear more clothes, so there was no escaping by walking around in tank tops and shorts. We would survive, but you can bet there would be a lot of complaining.

Answer 5

Of course we COULD, the question is will we? Probably not. At least not for a while. The human body is perfectly capable of living at temperatures far above 80 degrees. The average american, however, complains when anything is different than what they have been used to for years.

Answer 6

Why not?! I have to do without one everyday. So it's possible. Also the Japanese government passed a dresscode for work places so they can dress in cooler clothes so they won't suffer as much due to the energy conservation.

Answer 7

We could do it. We will do it one day. We once lived without AC and thrived. We need to conserve energy. There is really no choice when we are running out of it and energy prices just keeps going up.

Answer 8

People did without it for thousands of years before us.What we need is smarter technology,using ground temperature,circulation of air through underground pipes,gives you a 50 degree temperature.That's pipe and a fan,not a compressor.A lot more energy conscious.

Answer 9

well as a personal note. any temperature near 87 degrees is too hot for me.. i cant sleep if i am sleepy.

now some ppl are used to the heat. and may be better off if we do lose ac.

but then there are some ppl who cant stand the heat and will perish in the summer

Answer 10

I think it's fair to assume that a request (not mandating by law) that Americans or American companies do *anything* voluntarily (that requires even the most insignificant sacrifice) is a total joke.