Re: air conditioning may be making us fat

Earl Evleth writes:

The complaint in the papers here is that they are too powerful.

Where is "here"? Certainly not in France. I've yet to encounter
powerful air conditioning in France. The closest I've come was a
supermarket on the avenue Daumesnil that was quite heavenly.

The issue is how much temperature difference between the inside
and outside?

No, the issue is absolute temperature. Just because the outside
temperature rises doesn't mean that it's a good idea to raise the
internal temperature.

Our dog will not pant at 30°C but around 33°C the panting sets
in. I feel the same way, I find 30°C comfortable if it is in the
high 30s outside.

I take it you are sitting still.

The big problem is the brutal effect on the body of passing from
40°C (let's say) to 25°C.

There is no such "brutal" effect. The body is struggling to throw off
heat at 40° C; moving to 25° C takes a tremendous load off the body
and allows it to cool down.

Other factors such as air motion
and humidity play a role but the temperature difference is
the most important one.

It's not an important difference at all. Odd that nobody complains
about it when the outside temperature is -14° C and the inside
temperature is 23° C.

Another factor, largely ignored in home systems, is
maintaining it. There is something called the "sick
building syndrome", which has many causes but one
of which is

"Bacteria pollen and mould - if these contaminants collect in drains or
air-conditioning systems they can breed and spread causing a variety of
health problems such as allergies and infections."

I've never encountered this. A/C systems that are regularly used and
properly maintained tend to remain fairly clean.

"Researchers at Louisiana State Medical Center identified eight different
types of mould living inside of 22 of 25 cars tested. Air conditioning units
can also circulate air-borne diseases, most famously Legionaire¹s Disease.
If the unit has cheap filters or is not properly maintained it will simply
recirculate pollutants."

If it has cheap filters or is improperly maintained.

Overall, however, A/C tends to remove particulate contaminants because
it usually forces air through filters. And it removes humidity, which
also helps discourage the growth of some organisms.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: More Gore
    ... The "Bad Thing" that I see first firsthand is increased air conditioning ... When my vehicle is a 4-wheeled one with a fuel-burning ... engine, as opposed to increase of opportunity to make good use of waste ... insufficient when the ambient temperature exceeds about 25 degrees C no ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Electricity touts
    ... As I recall, the curve for electricity demand against temperature in the ... But 1975 and 1976 were two very hot summers, ... think there has been much of an increase in home air conditioning. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: Electricity touts
    ... As I recall, the curve for electricity demand against temperature in the ... But 1975 and 1976 were two very hot summers, ... think there has been much of an increase in home air conditioning. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: Fall has fell
    ... At work, before we had air-conditioning, I used to say I'd take my jacket ... off only when the temperature was above 30C. ... After I moved to an office with air conditioning, well, the British can't ... open plan office that had until recently been a manager's office. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Oregon Scientific Weather Station WMR10O
    ... I was given one of these in January 2008 and the temperature sensor went very untrustworthy showing 55degrees c when the temperature was 6 or 7 degrees c. ... Could not get any sense out of Oregon support this side of the pond and in the end I sent it back to the shop in France it was bought from. ... There is a difference in that the temperature it gives rises a good deal if there is considerable rain going back to normal readings after the rain has past. ...
    (uk.sci.weather)