How much A/C are you running?

[RB TexLa]

I didn't run mine at all this weekend. Fans and windows open. It's 102 but that doesn't mean I HAVE to turn my A/C on. For me it's two things 1) The electricity providers do not deserve to have my money, so I want to give them as little of it as I can 2) a toughness issue, we haven't had A/C that long of a time. People lived in Texas and other areas without A/C, it can be done.

It just seems the privileged American syndrome: we all deserve, we are all just so damn entitled to have.

[tumtum]

1. In AZ?

Pretty much have to run the A/C 24/7.

[RB TexLa]

6. Have you ever tried not running it? I love the heat. There's no humidity here so it's not as hot

as home but.

[William769]

23. S.W. Florida this time of the year is nothing but humidty!

I would literally die with out a/c as many would here. Right now the sun just set and it's still 96 degrees with 100% humidity. Yes it costs me but thats the price I pay for where I live.

Some of us don't have the luxury of being able to stick it out.

[RB TexLa]

25. I stopped running it in New Orleans

[William769]

29. Good for you.

Unfortunately my health won't let me.

[TxGrandpa]

56. Same here...

...my health won't let me either, especially with having emphysema.
A/C is one of the reasons the quality of life is better today.

[Jazzgirl]

83. Me too TxGrandpa.

When you have emphysema you realize you gotta have air or you just can't breathe.

[ConcernedCanuk]

59. I visited Florida one summer in the late 70's

.
.
.

The humidity was a killer

I noticed that even the laundromats had A/C going full bore.

Was on a camping trip with my g/f at the time.

Stayed in a campsite near Jacksonville.

It was too friggen hot and humid to even fool around!

No A/C in my tent - ergo, no s*x, DARN!!

CC

[William769]

79. I am about 350 miles S.W. of Jacsonville. We go there to get cool.

P.S. I will never go camping in Florida. The closest I will ever come to it here is at a Hyatt.

[ConcernedCanuk]

97. One of my best memories of Florida?

.
.
.

was being able to pull off the highway and drive right down the beach.

What was I driving?

A 1962 Lincoln Continental - almost the exact same make and model that JFK got assassinated in.



That sorta haunts me a bit . . .

don't know why . .

CC

[itsrobert]

87. a midnite swim

could of cool you guys off. Of course the alligators might have gotten you.

[ConcernedCanuk]

92. LOL - "Of course the alligators might have gotten you"

.
.
.

I was so enamored with this girl I would have taken the chance!

Thanks for the suggestion of the swim,

but it's over 30 years too late



CC

[tumtum]

24. I tried one time, but when the avg. temp during summer is 110-118

I pretty much need the A/C.

[Zorra]

94. I have a big swamp cooler. Uses much less energy than AC but does not get the house as cool as AC

does when it's 105 or when it is humid.

[quinnox]

2. yup, just like all the showers and water we use all the time

Americans have this attitude and are spoiled to a remarkable degree, speaking generally. We use a huge percentage of the worlds resources, compared with our population numbers.

[Ohio Joe]

3. None

I started using a swamp cooler when I moved to CO. Far better then AC in a dry climate.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

32. Yeah, heard how that is, but never been in a climate where I could use one.

Would be nice though. Keep cool without the massive electric bill.
Over here, though, we have a whole house fan up in the attic. It's not like the ones you can get at Lowe's; this thing is a massive sucker that, according to my neighbor who helped me put a new motor in it, is actually meant to keep a hot factory cool. We use it any time it's only in the low 80s during the day, and not much humidity, so we use our a/c a lot less than most of our neighbors.

[RKP5637]

63. And way cheaper! I was surprised at how well they worked when I lived there. n/t

[curlyred]

88. None here too

Swamp cooler only for the last 30 years. Works great in Colorado!

[NaturalHigh]

149. I had a swamp cooler when I lived in Colorado.

It was great. I wish it worked as well here in Oklahoma, but the humidity makes air conditioners necessary.

[FBaggins]

4. Do you have variable pricing?

If not... the power you use at 102 probably costs them more than you pay for it.

so if you really want to stick it to them... get comfortable.

[RB TexLa]

7. I have no desire to stick it to them, I have a desire to not give people my money.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. None. We don't have it or need it here in SW Washington.

One of the main reasons we bailed from Sunny California 30 years ago was because of the heat.

[brewens]

176. That would depend on how far SW you are. I bet you're not in Clarkston! n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

182. Up in the hills near YVR.

We get some hot days every summer but not enough to put in A/C.

[bunnies]

8. None.

I refuse to use one. Though, it was a bit tough when it was over 100 degrees for a week, but I refuse to give up fresh air and open windows.

[oneshooter]

90. Try over 100 for a month, with 85% humidity.

Houston is the most air conditioned city in the US. Without it there would be a much smaller city.

[bunnies]

106. The humidity is that high?

Not sure Id be able to stand it, honestly.

[MrMickeysMom]

179. Houston is sweltering and so was Central FL

Sometimes you just don't get away from oppressive heat/humidity. Circulating air is better than nothing... But, don't expect to be able to do much.

That, I believe, is why people operate at a slower pace in the "South". Killer...

[dixiegrrrrl]

188. Houston is VERY humid.

I have lived/been in most of Fla. north of Ocala, most of Ala., and some of Georgia, and most of the Redneck Riveria
(The "coast" of the Gulf Coast)
Macon in August was a steambath, almost but not quite as bad as Houston.
I was surprised, because we think of Texas as being big and sorta deser-ty, right?
Nope, not SE. Texas.
I am always amazed that the Scarlett O'Haras of the South could walk more than 10 steps in their layers of clothes.

Ya know that "heat index" that weather people talk about? It is the combination of humidity and temperature, also called
"wet bulb" temperature.
Yesterday here around 11 am it was 83 with a heat index of 103.

[ananda]

9. Fans

For some reason this place never gets above 82, even in triple digit weather.
So fans and iced drinks work just fine.

Oh yeah, this way my bill never runs over $50.

[Koios]

10. A/C usage, in Kirkland WA

Keeping it at 70, since it's a sweltering 80 outside.

[avebury]

60. I remember one summer talking to my niece who lives in Maine.

She complained about how hot it was. I asked her how hot was it. Her response - low 80s. I laughed. Weather in the 80s would be viewed as a beautiful summer in Oklahoma where we can easily run mid 90s to over 100.

[Koios]

65. I remember ...

... when living on the Texas side of the Red River. And A/C was as vital as running water. In these parts, A/C is rare, but I have it, so ... might as well keep me and my 5 dogs in cool comfort.

[mcar]

11. Florida

August. Any questions?

[RebelOne]

52. I know as I lived in South Florida most of my life.

A/C in your home and car is a must for survival from the heat and humidity. I live in North Georgia now, and the humidity is not as bad, so I only run my A/C during the day since the nights are fairly cool and I can get by with a fan in the bedroom.

[mcar]

68. Oh I'd love that

I am so over summer heat and humidity here.

[RebelOne]

95. You would love North Georgia. We only have 3 months of summer heat

before fall kicks in and everything cools off. Our winters are not extremely cold. No need for snow tires and all that is needed in the northern states. Maybe once a year we get some snow, but it is not enough like the north where you need to shovel snow from your driveway. I absolutely love it here.

People here complain about the humidity in the summer, and I tell them that they do not know what real humidity is unless you have lived in South Florida.

[mcar]

125. One of our favorite vacation spots

We love the Georgia mountains and state parks - Unicoi, Amicalola Falls, Black Rock Mountain. We've hiked and biked the mountains there many times. It's beautiful country.

[steve2470]

86. 7 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, mid-Florida, August any questions, indeed :) nt

[liberal_at_heart]

12. I grew up in TX. I was spoiled on ac. Now I'm in the Northwest, and I'm burning up.

I know, I know the Northwest is mild especially compared to other parts of the country, but we do have days when it gets to be 90, 95, and sometimes even 100 degrees. For someone who is used to artificially creating a nice 75 to 80 degree environment, 85 to 90 degrees is hot. I miss my ac.

[NickB79]

13. So far this year? None at all

Because 1) the A/C bit the dust, again (I'd just replaced the fan motor two years ago).

Then there's 2) we've installed a boatload of insulation in the past few years (attic and wall), replaced drafty windows and weather-wrapped the house when we had the old siding replaced. The end result is that the house absolutely refuses to heat up when it gets hot outside.

And 3) it's been fucking COLD this year up here in Minnesota. First, we had blizzards into May, so spring was a month behind schedule. We had a heat wave in late June-early July, but then things got crazy again. There were frost warnings along the MN/Canada border a couple weeks ago! In JULY! Down here in the Twin Cities, we haven't gotten nearly that cold, but it has been running in the 70's during the days, 50's at night.

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. At 7,000 feet? We don't even HAVE a/c.

When I lived in the L.A. Basin though, I used it whenever I wanted to be comfortable, and fuck what anyone thinks about that.

[HereSince1628]

15. I put up with FEBRUARY in Wisconsin to avoid the A/C bill.

And I put up with Scott Walker everyday because the DNC avoided that other bill.

[REP]

16. Radiant cooling - does that count as A/C?

Haven't used it much lately; it's been pretty nice.

You know what people like me did before air conditioning? THEY DIED. Same thing with antibiotics and modern surgery.

[CTyankee]

17. wehaven't been running ours for over a week. It has been like early September here in CT...

I will take what I can get...

[silverweb]

18. Have it, don't use it.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]It's routinely been in the 80s to 90s this summer and hit 105 last month, but I've never used the unit as more than a fan.

Together with a small table-top 3-speed that I aim in my direction, as well as a ceiling fan that's on 24/7, the air movement is quite adequate for comfort.

I actively dislike a/c and would only use it if I actually felt ill from the heat, which has never happened yet.

[tularetom]

19. None, because my unit took a dump last week

When it's running we keep the thermostat set at 82 which is fine when it's 100+ outside. This is a 100 year old house with 2x6 studs so we have an extra 2 inches of insulation. Besides, no matter how hot it is outside in the afternoon, it drops into the 50's at night. We have a whole house fan that we turn on in the morning to pull in the cool air from outside before it begins to heat up.

Even with all that we still wind up with $200 monthly electric bills here in the summer months.

[RC]

134. A 100 year old house has no insulation in the walls.

[tularetom]

145. This one does because we put it in in 1998

We lived there for 11 years, sweating it out in the summer and freezing our asses off in the winter before we had the money to do it. We did it room by room, tearing out the old lath & plaster, installing the bats, putting up drywall, then texturing and painting.

[RC]

156. That was a lot of messy work.

Your house is probably several tons lighter now.

[tularetom]

161. I had a lot of very tall free labor to tear out the plaster

Wife 5'10", Son 6'5", Son in Law 6'3", Daughter 5'11". They could all reach almost all of the walls except in the living and dining rooms where there were 10' ceilings. So we didn't have to work off ladders very much. We spent every weekend for about 2 months getting rid of all the plaster - 10 rooms in the house.

I had a horse trailer to haul off the debris and at the time a trailer load cost me $5 to dispose of at the dump. And I probably bought $200 worth of beer for my crew.

My son and I hung and taped the drywall and I had a guy texture it. Then my wife and I painted the rooms one at a time. Start to finish the whole job took maybe 6 months on weekends and vacation days and cost probably less than $2500. In the 15 years since we did it, it's probably paid for itself in heating and cooling savings.

[ohheckyeah]

20. I run it a lot.

I'm happy to have it and don't resent paying the bill every month.

[cigsandcoffee]

21. All of it. n/t

[Raine]

22. I'm in coastal Los Angeles County, never ever need A/C except in the car

sometimes.

[flvegan]

26. I used all that you saved. I don't cool with you.

[Phentex]

93. Best of Thread Award!

Perfect response. Wish I'd thought of it.

[michreject]

44. I have a truck

Can't seem to get more that 10 MPG. A/C in the summer and 4 hell drive in the winter.

I need to move where it's either spring or fall.

[LWolf]

28. None.

I don't have any.

I am running my portable evaporative cooler, which works okay if you sit in front of it.

[Blue_In_AK]

30. None.

We don't even have A/C, although we could have used it earlier this summer. It's a very pleasant 65 degrees or so right now.

[hunter]

62. That's hotter than where I am in California...

That's hotter than tomorrow's predicted high here, and the next five days highs too...

I live in a world without summer. We have two seasons, rainy and cold, or not rainy and cool. Occasionally, a few days a year, we'll get hot dry weather, eighties or nineties, and people complain about the heat.

The world is a fascinating place.

[Blue_In_AK]

91. There were days this summer

when it was hotter here than it was in Denver and Los Angeles, where my daughters live. It felt totally WRONG. Where do you live in CA?


Ed. Do you live in the Bay Area. I used to live in SF and it was pretty chilly most of the time, but I loved it.

[Retrograde]

110. Bay Area? My tomatoes are protesting the lack of sun

San Francisco was downright cold (high 50s out in the Sunset) last week. I'm on the Peninsula, at the edge of the fog belt, and we don't see the sun before 10AM - if we're lucky.

OK, I did have the fan on in June, but we don't have air conditioning.

[Gormy Cuss]

111. SF Bay area is in a winter/spring pattern it seems.

It's been cool even inland where it's usually hot in August. The marine layer has extended east of the hills most of the past two weeks -- that's really weird for summer and it's the second cool pattern so far.

It is sunny here but the heat-seeking veggies (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant) are not happy.

[Retrograde]

115. "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"

supposedly Mark Twain. It varies from year to year, but July seemed about par to me: watching the scantily-clad tourists shiver and complain about the fog. It'll get warm as usual in September.

I spent early July in Sacramento ("it's a dry heat&quot and was reminded of how the Central Valley suffers for the comfort of those of us near the ocean.

[SMC22307]

31. I hate heat and humidity -- it runs almost every day during the summer.

My electric bill (heat pump) averages out to only $79/month. I bike or Metro to work. I've planted many trees/shrubs for shade. I draw blinds when blazing sun is streaming in. I take advantage of a ceiling fan when in a room. Energy-efficient windows have been installed.

And I don't feel guilty about it.

[one_voice]

33. I run it when it's too hot to have the windows open...

87 degrees or higher or 80 and high humidity.

And since I'm the one that pays my bill I don't really much care what anyone else thinks about it.

I keep my heat at around 67 in the winter.

[Trailrider1951]

34. Not nearly as much as I could be running

I'm in a tiny town in central Texas. It is 103*F as I type this. I live in a two-story 2800 sq ft house that has separate units for upstairs and downstairs. In the summertime, I abandon the upstairs to the heat, and leave a couple of windows open up there for ventilation. I have the downstairs AC thermostat on 83* F, and have a small 5000 BTU window air conditioner unit in my bedroom that I run only when I'm there at night and on weekends. I also run ceiling fans downstairs in the living room, dining room and my office where my computer is located. I also have an above-ground swimming pool that I set up in April and take down in October. When I get too hot, I take a dip in the pool with a thin T-shirt on, and leave that wet shirt on until it dries out. Then rinse, repeat. It is amazing how cool it can keep you under a ceiling fan. When I first bought the house in 2006, I tried to keep it all at 78* F, and my electric bill was over $500 for August/September. Yikes! Now, my last bill was under $130 for the month of July with these cost-cutting efforts. I would highly recommend that if you cannot sleep in the sticky heat (as I cannot), purchase a small window unit and just a/c your sleeping space. I also do not want to pay any more than I have to for my utilities.

[sakabatou]

35. Zero. I have a fan in my room.

[michreject]

36. Been on since May

If you have it, why not use it?

[msongs]

37. don't need it in honolulu nt

[JaneyVee]

38. 2 fans. Industrial strength.

[roody]

39. None. Have an evaporative cooler

in No Cal. I've lived in Ark. and Ia without AC, but I like to be warm. Here we don't call it hot unless it's over 100.

[MillennialDem]

40. I have to use the AC or I sweat like a pig. I live in WI but I'm from southern CA and

I had to run the AC there too. And here as well.

What's funny is I don't even own a winter coat, the heat in my car doesn't work at all, and I am tougher in the cold than native Wisconsinites. But I am a wimp when it comes to heat.

[MADem]

41. None. It's seventy degrees.

Supposed to go down to a crispy fifty tonight--I will open all the windows and let cold air in. The house is stone so it will stay cool. I will use a blanket!

[FreeJoe]

42. 78

I keep the thermostat set to 78 in the summer. Seems reasonable to me.

[DesMoinesDem]

43. Everyday.

This OP reminds me of people who brag about not owning a TV.

[RB TexLa]

46. You can own a television with it only costing you the electricity to run it.

That's not a major cost. My primary thing is I do not wish to give anyone my money.

[derby378]

45. I try to shut off the a/c every time I leave the house

As long as everything that's supposed to be refrigerated is actually inside the fridge, no biggie. Just let the a/c cool the place down when you get home and throw on some lounging shorts. Hey, you're allowed.

[Link Speed]

47. Zip, nada, because Baby Jesus gave us swimming pools and cold beer.

And Bandoo neckwraps

[City Lights]

48. It's been cooler here, so my AC is not running.

I was using it during the last heat wave we had though, and will do so again in the future.

[hunter]

49. Nobody here has air conditioning.

I know people who don't heat in the winter either. My parents and one of my siblings live in similar climates. Sometimes I miss the hot summers of my Southern California childhood, but not often.

[Kaleva]

53. First thought you were talking about DUers in general

Just as we don't eat at McDonalds or shop at Wal-Mart. We do, apparently, take a shower at least once a day.

[hunter]

81. I will not speak of the time I went a year without a shower...

Not to mention that aluminum based deodorants give me terrible rashes...

[Texasgal]

50. It's been over 100 degrees for days now.

Fuck it. I turned on the air. Call me privileged, I don't care. It's HOT.

[tammywammy]

69. +1 n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

74. yep - that's my attitude also.

.
.
.

CC

[smackd]

132. no shit...that's what it's FOR...

in Austin...we do try and wait as long as possible, this year we made it until 5/16 before we turned it on.

it helps that it's been so dry. as soon as we have a cool snap we'll turn it back off, but that's probably not going to be for another two months. we do try, tho.

[kestrel91316]

51. We have had a remarkably moderate summer so far, and I haven't used the AC much the past 3 weeks.

That said, my apartment gets full northwestern sun exposure from April through September, and only has windows and doors on the north (slightly NW) side. Well, the front door is to the east but there's no screen door so I can't leave it standing open, I have cats. There is virtually no insulation, so heat works its way right in (and OUT in the winter), and the flat roof means hot air pushes down from the ceiling.

If you don't have AC here in the west end of the San Fernando Valley you are courting heat stroke for 3-5 months out of the year. It can get over 115F and the record is 119F.

[Ruby the Liberal]

54. Lots and lots and lots

So thank you, holier-liberal-than-I for cutting back in Texas so that I can provide a nice, cool environment for my widowed mother who just had reverse shoulder surgery last week and is experiencing hot spots and night sweats from her pain meds while she recuperates.

My hat is off to you for your sacrifice.

[Texasgal]

55. *snicker*

And KICK! yeah!!!

[brewens]

57. I lived for 35 years in north central Idaho with no A/C. I'm in the Lewis-Clark Valley

where 100 is not unusual for almost two months in the summer. Mostly mid 90's. For a lot of my adult like I had a kind of swing shift job. I didn't really need to go to sleep until it cooled off a little. Fans were fine as long as I was careful about managing the heat. I could just turn my frunace fan on downstairs and keep my mostly shaded house just fine for me.

Now that I live in a house that gets much hotter and have to be to work early, I'm an A/C hog on hot days. I will shut it down and open up windows when I get up at night. I really like it better that way. I just have to be able to get to sleep for a few hours first.

[CrispyQ]

58. An oscillating fan & a spray bottle of cold water.

92° is the high in our house. Now, it has to be in the upper 90s for a few days straight before it gets that hot. Also, we have a ranch style house, so the windows have to be closed up at night, which is a drag, or we would cool off a couple of degrees more. Global warming boot camp, I call it. Add the hot flashes I've had for the past two summers & it's like global warming boot camp on steroids.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

64. Why do you need to keep windows closed because your house is a ranch style?

Last edited Mon Aug 5, 2013, 09:34 PM - Edit history (1)

I feel like I'm missing something obvious. Thanks.

[hack89]

66. Perhaps they live in a high crime area

where you have to keep ground level windows shut.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

85. Oh. Could be.

Thank you--I hadn't considered it.

[CrispyQ]

105. Security.

We live in a fairly safe area, but on a busy street with a lot of foot traffic. My husband works nights, so I close all the windows.

[MadrasT]

61. None

And we had several weeks of 90+ degrees here

A/C is a luxury I can go without and I cannot believe how many people seem to believe it is a necessity

[pintobean]

67. Two and a half tons. nt

[malaise]

70. None

Two ceiling fans are running plus a floor fan.

[aikoaiko]

71. With South GA humidity and a wife who likes it a nice 67 degrees...

...its on year round. Fortunately, the bill is a lot less in the winter.

[madokie]

72. Have it set on 73 to 74 depending on the day

We put in a 19 SEER inverter mini split this spring and our electric bill is already showing that it was a good decision.

[Niceguy1]

73. I work nights

So a/c is a must.

[Nye Bevan]

75. I leave it on 75 and it comes on when it needs to.

I must admit, I love the feeling of walking in from a hot, humid day into a nice cool house.

[postulater]

76. Live in Wisconsin a block from Lake Michigan

We are always 10 degrees more temperate than five miles inland, summer or winter.

We use air only when my wife has trouble sleeping. She works different L&D shifts at the midwifery service and has to be able to get good sleep.

Usually that turns into about ten or fifteen nights per summer. About 4 days so far this year. Unless it warms up significantly in the next few weeks we may be done for the year.

Wearing my hoodie tonight.

[CreekDog]

77. was the climate as warm when people didn't have A/C?

for example in Phoenix, the days and nights were considerably cooler in the days before A/C was common.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

78. I'm not sure.

I keep it around 53 degrees in my house. If it gets above 53 I prop open the freezer door to help the air conditioner cool things down.

[libodem]

80. I use mine very little

My townhouse faces east. My garage is in the front. It heats up like an oven until noon. My bedroom sits over the garage. It is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. All the heat from down stairs rises. It stays 70 down there. It must be over 100 up here until 6-7:00 when I can open the window and put on the fan.

My duct work is ridiculous. My room is the last area for coverage. I have weak air pressure and barely cool air. It cools nothing. So why bother.

I acclimate to the outside temperature as much as possible. I'll keep my thermostat at 62 in the winter and 80 in the summers. I don't think big temperature shocks of one extreme to the other are good for people.

[ret5hd]

82. I don't sweat with you.

[Warpy]

84. I looked back and realized I haven't had mine on since July 3

and I didn't have it on much then.

I use an evaporative cooler and it runs me $15/month if I'm using it 8-10 hours a day and running the fan only on really hot nights.

Quite honestly, I get by on all but the hottest days with a small fan from Wally's during the day. At night I have a box fan set up in a window and I've been quite comfy, all things considered.

I suppose much of it is because after 22 years in the desert, I'm finally becoming acclimated to it. However, moving air dries sweat as it forms and keeps me cool. There is rarely condensation on the outside of a glass with an iced drink. It evaporates that fast.

Once the storms stop in the next couple of weeks or so, I imagine I'll use the cooler again. Until then, it's just not that necessary.

[ileus]

89. Always set on 77.

[Egalitarian Thug]

96. People can live in 130 degree heat in tents and burn cow shit for cooking.

Does that make it desirable?

[cprompt]

98. memphis summer

All the time and I used electricity provided by the TVA union shop to post this with my refrigerated beverage in my refrigerated house. Some of these posts make no sense are we going to campaign the party on buggy whips and zero technology

[PasadenaTrudy]

99. Constant. n/t

[Hekate]

100. None. But there are cities where old people literally die...

... in their hot, airless, apartments. Heat can be a killer to the very young and the very old. Do your part by checking on your neighbors, okay? They may not be as sturdy as you are.

[sammytko]

101. I had the same thoughts last Friday night when our AC went out.

I thought it was silly that we are so dependent on it. I'm in s. Texas and it was hot and VERY humid.

AC shut off because the pan was too full of water and couldn't drain fast enough. We had a friend of a friend AC repair guy come out on Saturday afternoon. Regular repair companies wouldn't return calls.

Anyway, it wasn't that bad with just fans and windows open. Did sleep with a cold wet towel around my neck.

I'm still running it though, just not as cold. Keeping it at 79 instead of 72. Can't bring myself to go to 80 yet.

We are under a heat advisory this week - will hit 106 tomorrow.

[RB TexLa]

107. Where in Texas do you have humidity? I'm in DFW and there is never any humidity. I miss

humidity.

[Go Vols]

114. I lived in Corpus

in the early '80s and every day the weatherman would say hot,hazy and humid.Seems its still like that.

Tuesday: Sunny to partly cloudy, hazy, hot, humid, windy, with a high near 100. Heat index near 109. South wind becoming southeast between 8 and 27 mph.

http://www.kiiitv.com/weather

[sammytko]

155. South of San Antonio

Not too far from the gulf coast

[TBF]

160. Seriously? Have you heard of Houston? nt

[CreekDog]

162. there is humidity in DFW

the dew point is comparable to much of the east coast and the temperatures are higher than the east coast.

[RB TexLa]

164. Compared to New Orleans? No, there is no humidity here, it sucks.

[CreekDog]

167. so noplace has humidity except New Orleans?

whatever.

[RB TexLa]

168. I'm just saying DFW is very dry compared to home.

[CreekDog]

171. you're not saying anything, you are just wanting to cause arguments

i challenge you to say one thing in support of programs which further the education, feeding and reduce the poverty of children.

via our taxes.

you won't.

[RB TexLa]

172. What does that have to do with using air conditioning?

[CreekDog]

175. as much as your post has to do with Democratic politics

[TBF]

190. Exactly -

it's just another right-wing garbage post.

I'll pay attention when he sends his memo to the Koch Bros. telling them not to use so much A/C.

Funny how it's always austerity for the 99% - and pure luxury for the 1%.

[Avalux]

102. A toughness issue? Who cares. I'm a wimp from the NE.

I need to sleep at night and if I'm sweating I can't and that causes me to be miserable. I would rather pay for AC and be comfortable. If I couldn't pay for it, I'd move out of the hell that is summer in South Central Texas. It's too damn hot here to be without AC.

[jasond54231]

103. These days? Full blast during daytime

I turn it off only at night, in order to save money. Then again, it's pretty cool at night, where I live.

[kiva]

104. Las Vegas, so yes, air's been on.

However we're headed for a cooler spell, low 100s, so the swamp coolers are going I love them, open windows, cool air instead of frigid, uses about 1/5 the power, and some moisture in the air.

[xxqqqzme]

109. None. don't have it.

It is why I live at the beach in SoCal. It may have been in the mid to upper 70s today.

[rrneck]

112. None. It's almost always cool at night here. nt

[Demo_Chris]

113. Texas. My AC is broken. nt

[vanlassie]

116. Here in Fresno? Lots! Triple Digit Heat will get ya down.

Take it from a native. Life is TOO short to cook your brains in the desert.

[ecstatic]

117. whoa! Be careful!

When my AC is out, I evacuate because I cannot deal with 80+ degree temperatures (indoors). I had a leak for several years and was forced to keep my AC at 76 degrees or higher to stretch the freon. Now that I have a new system, I've been splurging--AC is on 72 right now, but I usually keep it around 75 degrees.

[ladyVet]

118. AC may be a privilege for some.

But for others it's a matter of life or death. I'm one of those who would die if I got too hot. I was born with a condition that means I don't sweat. No sweat = no cooling = possible death.

I've had heat exhaustion more than I like, verging on heat stroke a couple of times. It's no fun. In fact, it's scary as hell.

That said, I only turn my window unit on when absolutely necessary. High humidity means it has to be on.

[Fumesucker]

119. As much as necessary to keep ~200 sq ft at a comfortable temperature

My power is less than $50 a month and I have an electric water heater too.

I actually spend a little more on power in the winter because my heat is also electric and the AC is more efficient than the heater.

[B Calm]

120. For the past few weeks I haven't had to run the AC.

[LanternWaste]

121. People certainly do frequently discuss how tough they are on Internet forums.

"a toughness issue..."

People certainly do frequently discuss how tough they are on Internet forums.

[RB TexLa]

135. The main issue would be the money. They do not deserve to have my money

[CreekDog]

191. then opt out of Medicare, you don't deserve to have their money

stay off the highways, you don't deserve to have my money which helps fund them.

[AngryOldDem]

150. My mom, who lived to be 92, lived almost all of her life in a house with no A/C.

It's amazing how you adapt. I grew up in the house as well, through many sweltering summers. Now, as much as I dislike using the air conditioning, there are some days where I just can't stand the heat and/or humidity.

Not a matter of toughness, for some; more that it's adaptation to one's environment.

[mnhtnbb]

122. Our house has 3 zones.

Two of them are set at 77 or 78 all the time; hubby will crank his down to 74 when he's working
or seeing patients in his office. Sometimes, at night, I have to go back in there and reset
it so he doesn't leave it on all night cooling an area of the house where no one is!

We're in North Carolina so it's hot and humid in the summer. Luckily, this summer, we haven't
seen much 90 degree weather, but we've had plenty of 90+% humidity.

[tammywammy]

139. You should install a programmable thermostat for his area.

They're reasonably priced and easy to install.

[mnhtnbb]

142. We have programmable thermostats on all three zones. He overrides the presets and

then forgets to return it to program status.

[tammywammy]

146. Naughty guy!

[Jokerman]

123. As much as it takes to stay comfortable.

Yea, it's a privilege but so what? My overall "carbon footprint" is lower than most and I can afford to keep my home comfortable, so I do.

[NCTraveler]

124. Set at 72 in West Central Florida.

Runs just about the whole day. Keep the office at 75. I really don't see how you equate this with being entitled or privileged. Pretty arrogant to think that.

[leftynyc]

126. Have no idea what you're babbling about

"privledged Americans"? "deserve"? "entitled"? No - I use it because it's fucking hot and humid and I work for a living so I can pay for stuff. Stuff like air conditioning. I also shower every day (sometimes twice). You want to be uncomfortable while you bask in your self righteousness, knock yourself out.

[Bonx]

128. :-)

[RB TexLa]

136. I don't want to give my money to them.

The less I use the less of my money I have to give them.

[leftynyc]

140. Yeah, I got that part

Now what about this part:

privledged Americans, deserve, entitled - do you care to explain how people who use air conditioning deserve to be described that way? What's it to you how I spend MY money?

[RB TexLa]

152. There is that part. People who think, I want, therefore I deserve.

Sacrifice is a good thing. There is peace in humility.

[CreekDog]

174. then why are you not wiling to sacrifice to help children out of poverty, preferring to keep your $$

no sacrifice there.

in fact, your M.O. here is to argue against yourself sacrificing anything.

[leftynyc]

187. Sorry - with me

it's more, I work..get a paycheck...and choose to use my air conditioner. I've EARNED it. You have no idea how I spend the rest of the money and frankly I don't see anything humble in being uncomfortable. Tell me, how does using or not using a machine help anyone at all?

[tabbycat31]

127. Before I moved (7 month contract)

My a/c was a window unit and I only ran it at night for two reasons. My bedroom was facing the main street and the traffic was noisy if the windows were open, so the a/c served as a white noise machine to help me sleep. THe second reason being keeping me cool.

Until I signed this lease in NC, I never lived anywhere with central a/c so it's still a foreign concept to me. I keep the a/c in my apartment at 72-75 at night and 80 during the day when I am at work. It's 700 square feet.

I have very little tolerance for a warm climate. I cease to function as soon as it gets to about 85. Give me 3 feet of snow over a heat wave any day.

[bluedigger]

129. Haven't had AC since I moved to the Four Corners.

But I started a new job at a convenience store a few days ago, and I spent a lot of time stocking the coolers yesterday. I will again today, if I can get away with it.

[Tikki]

130. Zero...I live near the Pacific Ocean...

Most often the Big Blue keeps us cool.


Tikki

[dionysus]

131. i dont keep cool with you.

[AtomicKitten]

133. Zip. It's a typical cold summer in SF. /nt

[demosincebirth]

137. 102 degress and you say you don't turn on the AC? You remind me of some of the who say "I'll

show them...I'll just sit here and suffer before I give the power company any money." Sometimes running too many fans will use more wattage than a AC.

[Safetykitten]

138. I think we should all outlaw bathing too.

[Arkana]

141. Um, I choose NOT to live in a puddle of my own sweat, thanks.

[Safetykitten]

143. Let's put it this way. I get thank you notes from Salt River Project.

[AngryOldDem]

144. I have tried not to use it because I get chilled easily.

But I also get uncomfortable in the heat. While it's not been all that hot here, the humidity has been high, which makes it stifling. I held out as long as I could today, but I had to turn it on.

Growing up, I lived in a house that had no air conditioning. It was built around the turn of the century, and there was no way to wire it for air. My folks tried on several occasions. (Maybe that's changed, but this was back in the '60s-70s.) Even window units didn't work. I vividly remember summers when every window in the house was open, drapes were pulled, and fans (ceiling, rotating, and box) were going full blast. It didn't bother me a bit. Now, I don't think I could stand to be in such an environment for very long. Funny how we get spoiled.

I like the days when we don't need it, because I don't like the closed-up feeling I get when all the windows are shut.

[mitchtv]

147. 1pm until 1am ,80 degrees

desert cities , Palm Sprgs area, we have solar panels ,2 units for different areas

[NaturalHigh]

148. A lot.

I don't see any reason to be hot and uncomfortable if I can help it.

[jberryhill]

151. 102 volts / 60 hertz / and about 10 amps right now

[ornotna]

153. 3.5 tons of high efficiency A/C, thermostat set at 77° F

Here in Florida that means there is peace in humidity.

[RB TexLa]

157. I'm from Louisiana I love the humidity. It feels good on your skin.

[ornotna]

166. Maybe good for your skin

Not so good for your house though. I prefer to use A/C to cool down and keep the humidity low in the house.

[KG]

154. hilarious

[kiva]

158. Why is air conditioning seen as some sort of decadent luxury,

but home heaters aren't? I use power in the summer to cool and very little in the winter to heat, but come January I don't start threads accusing people in the upper midwest or New England of being "privileged Americans" for heating their houses.

[Phentex]

163. exactly!

I never wear a coat. Does that make those who do privileged?

[kiva]

170. Only if they tell you

that you're entitled by flaunting your non-coatlessness.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

169. +1...Completely agree!

Tell an elderly person in a part of the country with hot, sometimes oppressive weather, that needs air conditioning for health reasons that they are being "privileged Americans."

[Nevernose]

177. More people die from heat exposure every year

Than freeze to death, at least in the US.

[TBF]

159. Not just entitlement -

some have health concerns that make it more difficult. If I open windows this time of year I can pretty much count on a good sinus infection - is that smarter than paying the A/C bill.

I'm glad you can live without it but for some of us it's vital. In contrast it takes a lot for me to put on the furnace in the winter. Here in Houston it does not get that cold (I am from Wisconsin originally - I remember cold) ... and I don't especially like the gas heat. So I tough it out as long as possible before using that.

[daleo]

165. Never had an AC

Where I live, Alberta Canada, our heat waves generally don't last long enough to bother with air conditioning.

[Jamaal510]

173. My family can't even afford it. nt

[arely staircase]

178. problem is

my house like many other modern structure isn't built with large windows on all sides. my family still in Mexico live in even hotter and more humid surroundings than I do in East Texas. they don't even have air conditioning - and they aren't poor, not rich but not poor. The house is cement, as is normal in Mexico, with ten foot windows all around the kitchen and living room areas as well as large windows in the bedrooms (all have security bars, of course) but are open constantly and the ceiling fans provide constant breeze. It can be a little unpleasant sometimes, especially this time a year. but no, it isn't unbearable and you get used to it after a while. But my house in East Texas, well some of the windows upstairs aren't even built to open. You could never achieve the level of air circulation the houses in Veracruz are built to create. My house was designed to be insulated for conditioned air. Cutting off my AC completely this time of year would be unbearable. When I have lost power due to hurricanes and it was hot the next day, I have slept outside in a hammock instead of suffering through a night in this house sans AC in a balmy East Texas night.

but your point is well taken and I agree with your thesis overall. I don't wish my house was like this. it just is.

[LittleBlue]

180. I like a nice comfortable 70

And that's how I keep it, no matter whether it's 100 or 20

[madrchsod]

181. running right now

brand new furnace and ac unit. super efficient and very cheap to run. i`m 66 with a crappy heart and after working years in the metal forming industry i can`t take the extreme heat anymore.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

183. 72-76 via programmable thermostat.

I like it very cool when sleeping. And since I don't live in an area with crisp, 50-degree nights (perfect sleeping weather), A/C it is.

[JDPriestly]

184. Southern California. Region 10 (for gardeners). Normally really hot this time of year

but cooler than usual this year.

We don't have air conditioning. We have trees. They provide shade. We also have shades and curtains on our windows that provide shade. So we open certain windows at certain times when it is cool out, then close them when it is warm.

We really don't miss air conditioning.

But I remember living in the Midwest and South, and there, you really need air conditioning because of the humidity. I know what you are going through, those of you in the Midwest and South. But we really don't need air conditioning. People who live in our area in apartments without trees probably do.

Don't risk your health!

[Violet_Crumble]

185. I spit on yr toughness. I'm so tough I leave my A/C running all winter!

There's no way I'm going to fall into the trap where I think I'm just so damn entitled to have heating during winter. That would be weak. And privileged. Now excuse me while I go and find some elderly folk and people who have conditions where access to air-conditioning can make the difference between life and death. I need to tell them how tough and uncompromisingly anti-privilege I am!!

[CakeGrrl]

186. Fans downstairs, portable A/C upstairs

I also have a pug, who I have to make sure stays cool when it heats up in summer.

[oldhippie]

189. Four tons .....

Pretty much from May to October.

[CreekDog]

192. at home, no, because I live near the ocean and there aren't many hot days

but there is A/C at work, I'd prefer outside air and even a warmer setting, but I don't control the building I work in, which has windows which cannot open.

i don't recall you ever bringing up entitlement when it comes to the wealthy and tax cuts, or companies and subsidies or military contractors.

now you're mocking those who live in hot climates for being entitled, some elderly whose health may suffer if they are in too much heat and some in high crime areas who can't keep windows open.

but you don't care about that. this thread is all about you stating that you're better than them.