When you say "units you get in hotel rooms", do you mean those weird American box thingys that hang out of the windows in New York City? Or those snazzy AC units that look like flattened spaceships that hang up on the top of the wall where you can't reach them so you need to use a remote? Or are they both the same thing? I am an air conditioning luddite. I had one of those spaceships when i lived in China, but i only used it once or twice when i had very, very bad hangovers. (And that just made me feel even more guilty.)
In Europe i had radiators controlled by a dial on the wall, which i tried to always set to a temperature so the radiator wouldn't go on. I remember waking up some mornings and i could see my breath... inside. For me it's a bit of a cheapskate thing too. I remember years ago my mother complaining that my aunt always had her thermostat set to 16 because she was cheap, but the way i see it... put a sweater on. Save the environment, save a bunch of money, and you can still have a luxurious life, because you can spend the cash you saved on grog or cake instead, and then you won't notice the cold.
In all honesty, i don't really expect most people to live miserly lives like me (and i'm far from perfect myself). Most people are older, or they have kids to look after, or whatever. Their concerns are different, they need to make their own decisions. I think it's just the lack of awareness (or care) that annoys me more than anything. If people don't show outwardly that they give a shit, then why would politicians, or business owners, or anyone else who has the power to make broader changes?
Yes to both! The box fan thing on the outside and the spaceship on the inside. I have a remote to programme mine, but I usually use an app, so I can keep the heating on minimal while I am out and nudge it up when I leave work. In winter I can't switch the heating off entirely or risk the pipes freezing, but the house is far better insulated than a British house so probably isn't too wasteful.
In Europe i had radiators controlled by a dial on the wall, which i tried to always set to a temperature so the radiator wouldn't go on. I remember waking up some mornings and i could see my breath... inside. For me it's a bit of a cheapskate thing too. I remember years ago my mother complaining that my aunt always had her thermostat set to 16 because she was cheap, but the way i see it... put a sweater on. Save the environment, save a bunch of money, and you can still have a luxurious life, because you can spend the cash you saved on grog or cake instead, and then you won't notice the cold.
In all honesty, i don't really expect most people to live miserly lives like me (and i'm far from perfect myself). Most people are older, or they have kids to look after, or whatever. Their concerns are different, they need to make their own decisions. I think it's just the lack of awareness (or care) that annoys me more than anything. If people don't show outwardly that they give a shit, then why would politicians, or business owners, or anyone else who has the power to make broader changes?
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment