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'Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World'
Environmental and political writer Stan Cox takes air conditioning to trial, using hot eco-topics to hand down a guilty verdict.
Tue, Aug 17 2010 at 10:29 AM
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IT'S POSSIBLE: Go ahead, throw open the windows and enjoy the summer breeze. (Photo: rick020200/Flickr)
For many Americans, from mid-June to mid-September the AC runs full tilt and there’s not really much thought given to it until the bill arrives. But even then most families bite the bullet and keep that cool air flowing.Enter Stan Cox, whose first book, “Sick Planet: Corporate Food and Medicine,” challenged all Americans to take a closer look at how corporate food and medicine are destroying environments and ruining living conditions across the world.
In “Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer)," Cox lays out a convincing portrait of the evils caused by air conditioning — from overdeveloped landscapes in the hottest climates to a dangerous overload of power supplies with no relief in sight.
“Slashing energy consumption will not only make it much easier to satisfy the remaining demand with renewable generation; it will also help prevent further damage to what’s left of the biological world,” Cox writes. He calls for sweeping economic and political changes to curtail the damage to our planet, and posits that to make the job more manageable, a lower-energy society is necessary.
Readers are reminded of the surprisingly pleasant outcome of citywide power outages in recent years —families getting out and socializing with neighbors, and spending quality time together without the interference of electronic entertainment and energy-hungry cooling devices.
So why pick on air conditioning when there are so many other environmental disasters? Cox refers to air conditioning as one of society’s top energy guzzlers, and uses pages of facts and statistics to prove his point. One wonders how sitting in his 90-degree home in Salinas, Kansas, Cox was able to gather so many mind-numbing facts and statistics without losing his cool.
But gather he did, and the outcome is 155 pages full of facts, figures and brief forays into the history and development of the country, from Arizona to Detroit, from poor neighborhoods to wealthy ones. The author dances from hot environmental topics to well-known societal changes, linking an overdependence on energy-draining devices to the decrease in live socializing.
Cox blasts indoor play places, too much homework, and overprotective societies for taking nature out of the typical American family life. He writes that living in homes and cars that are sealed tight against accidental encounters with nature over-sensitizes our bodies to the point that they are unable to withstand severe temperatures.
To be fair, Cox refers to the lives saved by air conditioning in sweltering temperatures, and the unfortunate loss of life of those who don’t have it. And reading the book one doesn’t get the sense that the author advocates tossing all units in a nearby recycling bin. He merely suggests, nay, demands, that Americans open their minds to a new way of thinking that will ensure a healthier future for people and planet.
The author practices what he preaches. In a recent visit to his home by a New York Times writer, Cox and his wife are described as cool and fresh, with nary a drop of sweat on their brow. Circulating fans, moving through the home to avoid the sun’s rays, and a healthy diet all contribute to their ability to comfortably enjoy the summer. It may not be for everyone, but change can be implemented in any home at some level.
Cox concludes his book by outlining and reviewing ways to keep cool, reduce heat loads and save energy. From roof vegetation to sustained air movement (aka fans), appropriately sized units and simply using only what we need, the author cites an extensive list of both proven and novel methods of cooling that don’t drain power plants or our wallets.
“Losing Our Cool” is not an easy read, but a valuable one, and the reward is a healthy shift in attitude toward many of the modern conveniences and societal changes that have wreaked subtle havoc on our bodies and our lives.
Thumbnail photo: molamoni/Flickr
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Not sure I'm ready to though out my air-conditioner but your review of Cox's thoughts state some noteworthy ideas. Sounds like a difficult but interesting read to pick up. Thanks for the input.
I live in South Florida. My utility bill is $25.00 per month.By simply opening the windows and the useof fans has become a way of life for me. Any major projects at home are accomplished when the early morning coolness occurs. I also do not use AC in my vehicle either. My shopping and errands are taken care of when there is little traffic to contend with and the weather is cooler. Careful planning and making a choice to reduce your carbon footprint is worth the sacrifice.
could not WILL himself to survive without air. its always freezing in our house, and im always cold, but no "turn the air on more baby!"
The biggest culprits are the stores and other public buildings that have their thermostat set at 68 degrees, and the doors constantly opening with people (and air) coming in & out. Their thermostats are set so low that it's uncomfortably cold to people like me, who prefer their thermostats set much higher. I feel like I need a freaking coat when I go to a store!
I'm sitting in the library as I write. I'm guessing the temp. is about 72. The Whole Foods across the street is just as cold. The local university chapel has their rooms set at 68. They are a member of a coalition of local churches dedicated to a sustainable way of life. Clueless.
I totally agree. I keep a jacket in my car or on my bike just for stores! Such a waste!
I live in FL also and need the a/c because I have asthma & COPD. It's set at 87 at night & when I'm not home and 85 when I am home. The fans run year round and the windows are open from October - June. I would rather not have to use the a/c but I can't breathe when it's hot & humid.
We live in Florida. We run our a/c June through October when thee humidity is high. We leave it at 78 when were home, and bump it up to 80 when were not. Oct thru May we lead a very "indoor/outdoor" lifestyle, with windows and french doors wide open!!!
Sadly, we are renting a house that has only two windows (both in the kitchen) that open in the downstairs main living area. The two upstairs rooms do have windows that open. Our bedroom, living room and dining room have only closed windows, so we HAVE to use airconditioning. I hate it, because we never can have fresh air. It gets up to the high 90's and 100's here. I can't believe they can build a house like this. Yes we do use the air conditioner, but would be happy not to always have to.
We don't have air conditioning, and it often gets over 100 degrees here in the summer. We open the windows at night and use fans, and close the windows in the morning. Fortunately it isn't humid here. I've been in other areas of the country where the heat and humidity are unbearable, and I would want an air conditioner at least some of the time.
food for thought