5 ms·

A lot of the mockery I've seen isn't related to Americans having air conditioning per se, but rather the ridiculously low temperatures the things seem to be set

by mft_ 7y ago

A lot of the mockery I've seen isn't related to Americans having air conditioning per se, but rather the ridiculously low temperatures the things seem to be set to during summer. I was in DC a couple of summers ago and the hotel I was in was so cold, I needed 2-3 layers (including a warm sweater) indoors... despite the temperature outside being ~40*C!

dmortin 7y ago
I don't get it either. Anyone has an explanation? Why is it good if it's so cold inside you have to wear a sweater?
- mrosett 7y ago
  <speculation> I think there are two things: * Precisely calibrating the temperature of a large space is really hard, and people are surprisingly aware of slight differences in temperature. To me, 68 degrees can feel like "I want a sweater" and 74 can feel like "It's sweltering in here." And preferences vary a lot across individuals * Coming in from the hot to the cold can create a large shock even if the building isn't that cold. If you're outside sweating in hot, humid weather, walking into a cool, dry room will feel frigid at first. Over time, though, it will feel more normal. </speculation>
  - mikhailt 7y ago
    This is pretty much it; it's much easier to ask people to wear more clothing than it is to take them off. Even in an apartment with 3 roommates, we'd have a fight because someone thinks 72 is too cold and it is too hot for me even if I'm barely naked.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
That and the fact so many US buildings are paper thin apparently insulation-free things, but with a really big aircon unit. Hopefully that's improved since I was last there.
ahartmetz 7y ago
Yes. I like air conditioning set to 24-26°C, which is comfortable with warm weather-appropriate clothing and the dehumidifying effect of aircon. Any colder seems like a waste of energy and forces you to wear clothing that gets uncomfortable very quickly if you do go outside. I used to work in an air-conditioned office with single room setting where everybody set it from 23-27. If people have to wear suits and can't take off their jackets (rare I guess), 22 might be OK. 25ish°C also seems to be the norm in Asia from my experience. It is fine.

by mft_ 7y ago

dmortin 7y ago

I don't get it either. Anyone has an explanation? Why is it good if it's so cold inside you have to wear a sweater?

mrosett 7y ago
<speculation> I think there are two things: * Precisely calibrating the temperature of a large space is really hard, and people are surprisingly aware of slight differences in temperature. To me, 68 degrees can feel like "I want a sweater" and 74 can feel like "It's sweltering in here." And preferences vary a lot across individuals * Coming in from the hot to the cold can create a large shock even if the building isn't that cold. If you're outside sweating in hot, humid weather, walking into a cool, dry room will feel frigid at first. Over time, though, it will feel more normal. </speculation>
- mikhailt 7y ago
  This is pretty much it; it's much easier to ask people to wear more clothing than it is to take them off. Even in an apartment with 3 roommates, we'd have a fight because someone thinks 72 is too cold and it is too hot for me even if I'm barely naked.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

That and the fact so many US buildings are paper thin apparently insulation-free things, but with a really big aircon unit. Hopefully that's improved since I was last there.

ahartmetz 7y ago

Yes. I like air conditioning set to 24-26°C, which is comfortable with warm weather-appropriate clothing and the dehumidifying effect of aircon. Any colder seems like a waste of energy and forces you to wear clothing that gets uncomfortable very quickly if you do go outside. I used to work in an air-conditioned office with single room setting where everybody set it from 23-27. If people have to wear suits and can't take off their jackets (rare I guess), 22 might be OK. 25ish°C also seems to be the norm in Asia from my experience. It is fine.