The Case against Air Conditioning Summary B.B.S. First Year/ B.A. First Year

The Case against Air Conditioning

-Stan Cox

Brief Summary:

The essay “The Case against Air Conditioning” written by Stan Cox talks about the excessive use of air conditioning and the positive effects of reducing its use not only in Washington D.C. or America but also everywhere in the world at work, home and around town. His main message through this essay is that places would be better without A.C. By mentioning the history A.C. in the world, he says that the first modern A.C. was built in 1903 by Willis Carrier. It was mostly used for industrial purposes, cooling factories, textile mills and printing plants. But it gradually reached to hospitals, homes, works, hotels, movie theatres, etc. and became the luxury of the people. But he argues that public health benefits of A.C.’s during severe heat do not justify it excessive use in daily private and public life. So, he wants people not to use it unnecessarily or eliminate it completely.

At work: By presenting the advantages of not using A.C., he believes that old America would return. He thinks that people would have short business hours and long holidays. People would sleep during the day time and job holders would not have to wear suits while going to their work showing the reason of hot weather. People would open their windows, take fresh air and ceiling fans, windows fans, and desk fans would take back to offices. Most importantly, legislative body of the government would not work at full swing, so it would save government cost. In the absence of A.C., the congress would work in the open place and pay attention to the climate change. But when they use A.C., they would pass time by giving tea parties and making new government.

At home: If there were no A.C., people would open their windows and take fresh air. They would make their house spacious, airy and cool and their utility bills would decrease. They would use simple electric appliances. They would unplug clothes dryers and clothes lines would be crisscrossed to their neighbourhoods. The hot stove would be abandoned and dinner would be eaten outside on the porch.

At around town: In the absence of A.C., people would feel cooler outside, visit their neighbours and exchange their personal feelings and ideas spending more time together. If they came out, the street with high crime rate would be safer. Old and helpless people would be familiar with one another and would not die without unnoticed. Children would come out to take cold air riding their bikes and scooter. They would not stay inside in summer. Rather, they would play in the shady playground with sprinklers. To make environment cool, people would plant and environment would become green and cool. More, trees would appear in both private and public spaces and the malls would reborn as the national grove.