Is air conditioning keeping us comfortable or creating unhealthy communities?

Comfortable

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by Mark Waybill

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As somebody who lives in an non-air conditioned house, I appreciate it when after walking on a hot summers day I enter the local Woolworth supermarket, and feel a cool breeze from those benevolent old chaps, the air conditioning units. How anyone could argue they cause unhealthiness is beyond me, unless you argue that becoming used to comfort weakens us when without of doors when confronted by science's full wrath?

In which case let me say that's preposterous nonsense. Think about it. Sure it has been shown that becoming used to and adapting to a life of ease and comfort indoors, and the taking for granted of an easy and comfortable life will not prepare one for a seventy mile hike through a sweltering jungle or a arctic trek to the North Pole. Then again who amongst us can list either feat as one of our accomplishments or planned accomplishments?

Most of us take for granted to some extent comfortable circumstances and civilized surrounds, and as we are unlikely to change of situation, this is not in itself a bad thing. Now sure somebody kicked out of their house and made homeless might think the conditions a trifle bracing, and let's not forget that until quite recently air conditioning was non-existent and temperature regulation was limited to hand operated fans, ice, open windows and the fireplace.

Humans have got to where we are now by adapting to changing conditions of temperature and other things, and thus we may experience mild discomfort from the cold or heat when used to an insulated indoor temperature, but it isn't pain unless in the extreme.

Thus as long as you take your daily walk before work/breakfast you shouldn't have anything to worry about getting weaker from indoor living. Air conditioning, like clothing, bedding, electric lighting etc, is one of the comforts of civilized life. Why refuse it?

The only other area in which a possible issue of health could be raised is filters. Air conditioning filters at the local mall were blamed for outbreaks of a disease a while back, and many air conditioning unit filters you see will be covered in grime and dust. But as long as you regularly clean your filters, this problem should not arise. Besides, what's a little dust to anybody but an asthmatic or weakling? Did not most homes have fireplaces until quite recently? Was not smoking considered normal until recently? A spot of pollution never does any harm to the systems.

Indeed one could argue that getting used to a life of comfort indoors is in a way similar to rest between battle, or a feast after victory. When we venture outdoors it only gives us more reason to brace ourselves for natural conditions and to fight more valiantly the wrath of science.

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