The Heat Is On
Outside my apartment, I hear air conditioning buzzing along, dripping condensation on the concrete walkway. Neighbors are pumping the cool air at high volume. These popular window units line my housing complex, and some never cease to hum.
It’ll reach about 88 degrees today in the Midwest. The heat is paired with a jarring humidity. For some, the moisture in the air can feel heavy and burdensome; others, like me, prefer it to the dry climate of places like Colorado. My skin feels healthier and more vibrant in the humidity. But the reality is that it can lead to hefty beads of sweat traveling circuitously down foreheads, backs, and weighing down clothing.
Climate Control
Because of this inconvenience, many people blast their air conditioning. Office spaces, hotels, and movie theaters can be notorious for their abundant air. The climate control aims to keep people in work clothes, comfortable.
Strangely enough, this refusal and resistance to acclimatize with seasonal changes hampers your body’s ability to adjust to the heat. Our body needs time to get used to the winter and summer, but when we blast the heat or air conditioning, we actually prevent our body from self-regulating properly.
Staying Frugal
Amidst the biological considerations of this hearty air conditioning consumption are the consequences to your frugal goals. Air conditioning is one of the most expensive utilities to run. Oftentimes, air conditioning is run throughout the day. Rarely does the buzz cease.
The coolest points in the day are at night and early morning; yet, people that run air conditioning keep the windows closed – keeping the world out. It’s hard to even realize that you may not need the climate control when the windows are shut.
Critical consumption starts at home with basic utilities. Sweat is natural; albeit, sometimes uncomfortable. But turning off/down your air conditioning can make powerful financial implications over time, and benefit the environment, too!
How often do you use air conditioning? Do you wait to turn it on until a certain point in the summer? How much could you save by turning it off?