Latest comments posted about Debate: can we turn off the air conditioning this summer? on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/2116-Debate-can-we-turn-off-the-air-conditioning-this-summer- http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/2116-Debate-can-we-turn-off-the-air-conditioning-this-summer- I have recently written a dissertation on educating about environmental protection. I discovered many people's perception of the environment to be very weak nowadays . Every day, every minute, people are doing things to destroy the environment. Environmental problems are already extremely serious but people just don't understand. Okay, perhaps some people think they don't need to sacrifice their own conveniences. What's more serious is that enjoying comfort brings some feeble contributions, as for natural disasters, when disease breaks out, don't complain, don't cry..... I too used to think I had nothing to do with protecting the environment, but now it's dawned on me. I very rarely use my air-conditioner, even if the temperature in the Guangdong summer is 39 degrees. When I got used to it, I didn't think it was that uncomfortable. People have the ability to adjust themselves to suit the environment. This comment was translated by Kate Truax. Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:52:26 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7804 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7804 The situation is different in every single country and region. One cannot analyze any of the phenomenon or problem merely according to the statistical data. Science and technology should be people oriented. Some of the developed countries enjoy their luxurious environment, while their enjoyment costs the developing countries dear. The very living resources the rich countries have been enjoying come before the loss of green area in the poorer countries and their increasing emission of greenhouse gases. So we can not stop at the surface. Being an excellent invention itself, the air conditioner should be used at the right places and in the right way with the minimal wasteful usage. To use air conditioners reasonably is to use them free from waste and human harm. Who does not want to live in a pleasant climate free from air conditioners? (Translated by Zheng Shen) Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:27:35 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7643 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7643 It's very difficult to give up air conditioners, for we have been used to the pleasantness it brought. However, if we could strengthen the insulation of our rooms, energy still can be greatly economized. This comment was translated by Stacy Xu. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:38:52 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7620 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7620 I think the case of "extremely hot can cause death like in California" is very few. Most of the time, people are just so used to using AC, no matter if the weather is really unbearably hot. I have been in many freezling cold meeting rooms because of the use of AC even when it is not very hot ourside. This comment was translated by Janet Yu Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:55:49 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7585 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7585 There are different tolerance levels for heat; our family has never really used air conditioning, although it's been available. It helps if your house is shaded by mature deciduous trees during the heat of the day; do some of your work in the basement if you have one. Keep a spray mist bottle of water handy - they are cheap and produce the same effect. Turning on air conditioning is a huge drain on power. That being said, I know that many people live in extremely humid areas. Of course it helps if the temperature cools off at night... Librarian Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:22:03 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7582 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7582 I agree that we need to make big changes in stead of changes that are barely noticeable. But in some places, not using the AC in the summer can cause death (140 deaths related to the heat waves in California): (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072801648.html) I'm from California and I know a lot of us use AC without even thinking, and we could definitely limit use and still be safe. But I disagree with the idea that it's just mind over matter, and I disagree with the idea that we have to sacrifice even basic needs in order to save the planet. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:51:39 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7554 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7554 The fundamental solution you have suggested is very attractive, yet I am still on sis Haidi's side. I am not sure whether the western countries have adopted the advanced technologies as you have mentioned, at least in China it will take a very long period of time to promote these technologies. It is a long process for the astonishing unbalanced development of different regions. Shouldn't we do something before the new technologies really cover China? (Comment translated by Zhou Chen) Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:14:49 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7540 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7540 "If we can do this on 150million air conditioners in China, we can save 750 million kw every year and reduce 720,000 tons CO2". These are just for 3 minutes, how about 8 hours? Contrasting with these two sets of data, the saving is too minor to mention. The greenhouse gas from the earth is only very small part of that from the Milky Way Galaxy. Is the universe able to absorb the gas? Isn’t it possible? Comment translated by Chong Huang Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:41:22 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7537 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7537 Turning off air conditioning 3 minutes before going out will make no difference to anything; neither comfort levels nor climate change. Perhaps the most dangerous thing we can do at a time when humanity is on the brink and radical solutions are needed is to focus on trivia. The sacrifice that's needed, in China and everywhere else, is to give up token 'solutions' and to do really radical stuff. For the air conditioning problem please use 'green walls' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_walls) which create cool micro-climates that also produce food, suck up CO2 and keep you warmer in winter. Also look at solar chimneys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_chimney) which provide flows of cooling air with no energy used once installed. Flat roofs should have insulation then food cropping; sloped roofs should have insulation then solar capture for electricity or heating. With enough insulation you shouldn't need cooling in summer nor heating in winter. For ideas on getting radical with the whole economy please see http://www.blindspot.org.uk. This work is supported by the NATO Science Programme and the UN. James Greyson Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:46:41 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7531 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7531 James, for the last few days I have been turning the air conditioning off a few minutes before I leave the flat(a huge effort i'm sure you agree). Yeah, I’ve had a small kick from feeling that I am changing things (mainly my own way of thinking) but it has got me thinking about what else I can do. So I cannot agree with you when you say its trivial…its part of the whole process of raising awareness which I admit is a very slow process maybe too slow. If I had read your suggestions first, I would have checked them out ….thought 'cool stuff' and then probably would have got up and gone out forgetting to turn off the air conditioning. You see at the moment I’m just not that radical but who knows maybe in a years time I will be trying my best to keep my green wall from becoming a brown wall. tommo Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:28:12 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7535 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/2116#comment-7535