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http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/is-your-thermostat-sexist http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/is-your-thermostat-se... The biological reasoning, as I

http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/is-your-thermostat-sexist http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/is-your-thermostat-se... The biological reasoning, as I understand it, is that men have a higher ratio of heat-generating muscle than women. When I first moved to NYC, I was bewildered by all the women walking around with scarves and summer dresses; it was explained to me that this was a strategy to optimize being comfortable in the outdoor heat, and then having something to withstand the frigid offices. (Personally, I'm of the opinion that one should acclimate to their climate, and folks who hate the heat wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't coddle themselves with AC all the time.)

khedoros1 9y ago
> (Personally, I'm of the opinion that one should acclimate to their climate, and folks who hate the heat wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't coddle themselves with AC all the time.) I agree, to an extent. I mean, bumping the temperature that you can be comfortable in by 10 or 15 degrees is reasonable (up or down). I lived in southern Arizona as a child, where 80 degree nights were heaven after 110 degree days. I'd argue that AC wasn't coddling there, though. "But it's a dry heat" has special meaning for me. AC was usually set around 80 or 85. During some of those same years, we stayed with family in my Grandparents' house: 2 aging window ACs, 90 degree heat, 90% humidity. We spent most of our time outside and slept in an un-conditioned room with the fan blasting. It's doable, but not my preference. A few weeks certainly wasn't enough to acclimate, and I think after a few years I'd probably still prefer to be in a (somewhat) cooled room. On the other hand, I lived somewhere cold during my early teens. The home was often around 50 degrees with all the radiators blasting, and we dealt with that too.
- Eric_WVGG 9y ago
  same, I'm from Tucson. ^5

khedoros1 9y ago

> (Personally, I'm of the opinion that one should acclimate to their climate, and folks who hate the heat wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't coddle themselves with AC all the time.) I agree, to an extent. I mean, bumping the temperature that you can be comfortable in by 10 or 15 degrees is reasonable (up or down). I lived in southern Arizona as a child, where 80 degree nights were heaven after 110 degree days. I'd argue that AC wasn't coddling there, though. "But it's a dry heat" has special meaning for me. AC was usually set around 80 or 85. During some of those same years, we stayed with family in my Grandparents' house: 2 aging window ACs, 90 degree heat, 90% humidity. We spent most of our time outside and slept in an un-conditioned room with the fan blasting. It's doable, but not my preference. A few weeks certainly wasn't enough to acclimate, and I think after a few years I'd probably still prefer to be in a (somewhat) cooled room. On the other hand, I lived somewhere cold during my early teens. The home was often around 50 degrees with all the radiators blasting, and we dealt with that too.

Eric_WVGG 9y ago
same, I'm from Tucson. ^5