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How did people get anything done in Houston before ACs became common in the mid 20th century?
by majewsky 7y ago
How did people get anything done in Houston before ACs became common in the mid 20th century?
- reaperducer 7y agoHow did people get anything done in Houston before ACs became common in the mid 20th century? Swamp coolers. When I lived in Houston, they were very common. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler
- asdfman123 7y agoMy dad lived here in the fifties. People used fans and got used to it. You just would sweat a lot. But there's a good argument that AC lead to the rapid growth of a lot of southern and sun-belt cities. I know if it didn't exist, I would take a hard look at living here. https://www.citylab.com/life/2012/06/cities-might-not-exist-without-air-conditioning/2399/ https://www.citylab.com/life/2012/06/cities-might-not-exist-... But really, how would northerners react if the Houston Chronicle wrote an article entitled "Do we really need heating?" suggesting that people get thick blankets and wear warm coats indoors. A few people in the comments might have a few provocative things to say about the kind of lifestyles of people who live up north, and suggest they move to the kind of place that doesn't need extensive heating.
- eecc 7y agoWell, when I was a young sprout we used to use thicker blankets in winter, and that was in Rome, Southern Europe. Today I live in Amsterdam - Northern Europe - and people chill outside bars wearing T-shirts under blazing hot gas heaters... very Titanic IMHO
- derekp7 7y agoAC actually opened up the south to office buildings. They most likely wouldn't exist (except where necessary) without it.
- asdfman123 7y agoImagine a company offering a great relocation package doing exactly what you want for 40% more money, but you have to sweat inside a 95 degree, humid office in the summer. Would you take it?