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Can we live without AC in the south?? Of course we can, our pre WW2 ancestors did live quite well here without it. Without heat???, that is tougher because everywhere in the south but parts of FL and TX get some winter conditions and that can kill you. Here in TN last winter we had an ice storm and freezing conditions that lasted over a week. Our ancestors had wood stoves, so NO not without heat. Would anyone want to live in the south without AC in the 21rst century??? NO. Considering the way mine is acting I may get to live without it for a while soon unfortunately.
Can you live in the South without air conditioning? Of course you can. People did it for thousands of years. And the OP is right that proper house design would help.
HOWEVER - and that's a big however, there is a reason why the South remained rural and undeveloped for so long. For much of the year it is simply too hot and uncomfortable for most people. Proper building design will only help so much. Before air conditioning, wealthy Southerners use to flock to northern resorts in the summer (such as Newport) or at least the mountains, while poorer Southerners actually moved North for much of the 1800s and 1900s.
So yeah, you could live in the Deep South without air conditioning but why would you want too!?
Can we live without AC in the south?? Of course we can, our pre WW2 ancestors did live quite well here without it. Without heat???, that is tougher because everywhere in the south but parts of FL and TX get some winter conditions and that can kill you. Here in TN last winter we had an ice storm and freezing conditions that lasted over a week. Our ancestors had wood stoves, so NO not without heat. Would anyone want to live in the south without AC in the 21rst century??? NO. Considering the way mine is acting I may get to live without it for a while soon unfortunately.
Without Heat, the livable areas of the South, generously, is limited to just the coastal areas, especially from North Carolina south to Florida, then onward to the Texas Gulf. The coastal South is generally mild/warm during winter, exhibiting lots of nice sunny days.
But the entire South can be inhabited without the use of A/C.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LINative
Can you live in the South without air conditioning? Of course you can. People did it for thousands of years. And the OP is right that proper house design would help.
HOWEVER - and that's a big however, there is a reason why the South remained rural and undeveloped for so long. For much of the year it is simply too hot and uncomfortable for most people. Proper building design will only help so much. Before air conditioning, wealthy Southerners use to flock to northern resorts in the summer (such as Newport) or at least the mountains, while poorer Southerners actually moved North for much of the 1800s and 1900s.
So yeah, you could live in the Deep South without air conditioning but why would you want too!?
That is simply a result of the eurocentric nature of the US. Had the US been dominated by people of African or Asian decent, large thriving metropolises, and development would have occurred without the use of A/C. Unlike the Europeans, the two former groups come from continents that have regions with hot, humid weather, and thus the two groups have more experience and means of dealing with such climates without A/C compared to Europeans.
That is simply a result of the eurocentric nature of the US. Had the US been dominated by people of African or Asian decent, large thriving metropolises, and development would have occurred without the use of A/C. Unlike the Europeans, the two former groups come from continents that have regions with hot, humid weather, and thus the two groups have more experience and means of dealing with such climates without A/C compared to Europeans.
Then why is A/C very common in the non-poor parts of East Asia?
Without Heat, the livable areas of the South, generously, is limited to just the coastal areas, especially from North Carolina south to Florida, then onward to the Texas Gulf. The coastal South is generally mild/warm during winter, exhibiting lots of nice sunny days.
But the entire South can be inhabited without the use of A/C.
That is simply a result of the eurocentric nature of the US. Had the US been dominated by people of African or Asian decent, large thriving metropolises, and development would have occurred without the use of A/C. Unlike the Europeans, the two former groups come from continents that have regions with hot, humid weather, and thus the two groups have more experience and means of dealing with such climates without A/C compared to Europeans.
Many ancient civilizations arose in warm areas (Egypt, Greece, Iraq, India, etc.). But since the Industrial Age began in the 1800s, the most advanced areas tended to be in cooler more moderate areas like the Northern United States and Canada, Northern Europe (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany etc), and North East Asia. Part of the reason is probably that it is a lot easier to run and staff a factory or mill where the temperature is not hot and humid for much of the year.
The arrival of air conditioning is thus a big game changer.
Now when you say "without AC" are referring to only a complete air conditioning unit or all forms of cooling that use electricity (ie fans)? I could easily live without an AC system, but I would be miserable without a fan.
Then why is A/C very common in the non-poor parts of East Asia?
Because many East Asians, especially in these recent times, have been losing touch with their native ways, including the means by which they dealt with the hot, humid climate without A/C, and are allowing Western ideals and attitudes to overcome them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LINative
Many ancient civilizations arose in warm areas (Egypt, Greece, Iraq, India, etc.). But since the Industrial Age began in the 1800s, the most advanced areas tended to be in cooler more moderate areas like the Northern United States and Canada, Northern Europe (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany etc), and North East Asia. Part of the reason is probably that it is a lot easier to run and staff a factory or mill where the temperature is not hot and humid for much of the year.
The arrival of air conditioning is thus a big game changer.
Keep in mind the eurocentric nature of many of those countries that drove the Industrial Revolution; they thus were full of people who had little experience in handling heat and humidity. Had it been Africans, or Asians that drove the Revolution, the running and staffing of factories and mills would easily have been accomplished even with hot, humid conditions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mega man
Now when you say "without AC" are referring to only a complete air conditioning unit or all forms of cooling that use electricity (ie fans)? I could easily live without an AC system, but I would be miserable without a fan.
Just complete A/C units of course.
Houston is a paradise, as is New Orleans. Corpus Christi, Mobile, Tampa, Miami, Savannah, Charleston, etc all are paradises; the entire South is to an extent. The South is an Eden; very peaceful and easy climate to deal with.
Because many East Asians, especially in these recent times, have been losing touch with their native ways, including the means by which they dealt with the hot, humid climate without A/C, and are allowing Western ideals and attitudes to overcome them.
That doesn't make any sense. Obviously they are using A/C because it's an easy decision if they can afford it.
Houston is a paradise, as is New Orleans. Corpus Christi, Mobile, Tampa, Miami, Savannah, Charleston, etc all are paradises; the entire South is to an extent. The South is an Eden; very peaceful and easy climate to deal with.
I think you know that I mostly agree with this. I love the ocean, humidity, and thunderstorms. I even like to sweat. What I don't care for is the bugs and the mold.
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