Americans have become far too reliant on air-conditioning, says Stan Cox in The Washington Post. At home and at work, our lives would be a lot more civilized and sustainable if we eschewed energy-hogging A.C. and relied instead on more time-tested techniques for staying cool. "Shorter summer business hours and month-long closings -- common in pre-air-conditioned America" -- would become the norm again (siesta, anyone?). And "rather than cowering alone in chilly home-entertainment rooms," people would spend more time outside, grilling and getting to know their neighbors. All in all, "saying goodbye to air conditioning means saying hello to the world." Here's an excerpt:
Washington didn't grind to a sweaty halt last week under triple-digit temperatures. People didn't even slow down. Instead, the three-day, 100-plus-degree, record-shattering heat wave prompted Washingtonians to crank up their favorite humidity-reducing, electricity-bill-busting, fluorocarbon-filled appliance: the air conditioner.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Zack Polanski: the 'eco-populist' running for Green Party leaderIn The Spotlight 'Insurgent' party deputy is making a bid to take the Greens further to the left
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequelThe Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
