Over this scorching hot Fourth of July, millions of Americans from California to Louisiana will put their air conditioning into overdrive.That’s why some people have started to rethink their relationship with artificially cold air, including journalist Chris George who asked his wife this provocative question in 2009: “Why don’t we go nuts and see if we can make it through the whole year without even turning it on.
George chronicled his experiment for the local paper, the Arizona Republic. Part of the idea was about saving money, he says. Most of it was about saving the Earth — or at least reducing his impact on it. George thought he could even inspire others to do the same. “Air conditioning is kind of a Jekyll and Hyde situation,” Cox says. “It really is holding us back and it’s undercutting our ability to mitigate climate change. But it’s going to be necessary for adaptation to climate change.”
But Cox abstains. On a hot day, he spends time in the cool confines of his basement. Like Chris George, he’s gotten used to warmer indoor temperatures, which scientists call the Brager is not making the argument that people should stop using AC. But she does say that using a fan or opening a window to move a breeze through the room would cut back on energy use and make us more comfortable.Demand for AC surging around the world
Transaera’s portable AC unit looks like a piece of furniture you could imagine using in your living room. But it requires about 40 to 50% less electricity than conventional air conditioners, says co-founder Sorin Grama.