Is Phoenix livable without air conditioning? (house, camping, living)

[sonoranrat]

Phoenix is right in the middle of the scorching Sonaran desert with temperatures routinely in the 110s to even 120s. Now I know humidity is also low so its not as bad as it seems but if you were outdoors without climate control, there's no way you'd survive for long.

I am thinking that prior to the advent of electricity and invention of AC, Phoenix as a metropolitan city is simply impossible. It could still be a "winter" city as the winters are pleasant but certainly not a permanent year-round city. In contrast, big metropolitan areas like NY, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc have obviously existed before the modern era as all year round cities well before electricity, AC and modern technology were available.

Is Phoenix livable without AC? Or is Phoenix only possible as a city built in modern times because of the existence of AC?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by sonoranrat

Phoenix is right in the middle of the scorching Sonaran desert with temperatures routinely in the 110s to even 120s. Now I know humidity is also low so its not as bad as it seems but if you were outdoors without climate control, there's no way you'd survive for long.

I am thinking that prior to the advent of electricity and invention of AC, Phoenix as a metropolitan city is simply impossible. It could still be a "winter" city as the winters are pleasant but certainly not a permanent year-round city. In contrast, big metropolitan areas like NY, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc have obviously existed before the modern era as all year round cities well before electricity, AC and modern technology were available.

Is Phoenix livable without AC? Or is Phoenix only possible as a city built in modern times because of the existence of AC?

Phoenix was populated long before AC. Roads were built, rails were laid, fields were cleared, tilled, and farmed long before AC was invented. In fact, there is evidence of prehistoric civilizations throughout the Phoenix area.

You have it backwards, actually. Humans are well-adapted to heat. It's cold our hairless selves can't abide. We cool by evaporation. It is actually quite bearable in the shade in 110 plus as humidities are low and cooling is efficient. Humans can survive as long as there is food and water in any hot spot on earth. But they will die without a source of heat in cold climates. Phoenix may not be pleasant without ac, but it hardly is not livable. Thousands here work in outdoor occupations throughout summer. In addition, there is an abundance of life in the deserts other than people, including rabbits, deer, coyotes and other mammals. Chickens and cows and horses are not kept in the house in summer either.

[LocoAZnative]

People live here long before AC was invented so your question is stupid. Also, an a modern city AC makes it comfortable to live here.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by sonoranrat

I am thinking that prior to the advent of electricity and invention of AC, Phoenix as a metropolitan city is simply impossible. It could still be a "winter" city as the winters are pleasant but certainly not a permanent year-round city. In contrast, big metropolitan areas like NY, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc have obviously existed before the modern era as all year round cities well before electricity, AC and modern technology were available.

That's exactly one of the reasons the Phoenix area grew so rapidly after WWII. Air conditioning became mainstream, and a standard feature in most homes/businesses. Before then, only a few thousand residents lived in & around Phoenix, and it was a very small area. The average person cannot possibly live comfortably here during the summer without A/C. The problem is that with the sprawl came massive amounts of concrete & asphalt, which ADD to the heat ... and thus, contribute to increased A/C usage.

Originally Posted by sonoranrat

Is Phoenix livable without AC?

Not in the summer (June through September).

Originally Posted by sonoranrat

Or is Phoenix only possible as a city built in modern times because of the existence of AC?

Absolutely, without a doubt, YES.

[CodyW]

It's livable. No one in their right mind would want to do it, but it can be done.
We survived on just Evap until we got A/C a few years ago. I wouldn't want to go back to that.

[synapse]

Originally Posted by sonoranrat

Phoenix is right in the middle of the scorching Sonaran desert with temperatures routinely in the 110s to even 120s. Now I know humidity is also low so its not as bad as it seems but if you were outdoors without climate control, there's no way you'd survive for long.

I am thinking that prior to the advent of electricity and invention of AC, Phoenix as a metropolitan city is simply impossible. It could still be a "winter" city as the winters are pleasant but certainly not a permanent year-round city. In contrast, big metropolitan areas like NY, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc have obviously existed before the modern era as all year round cities well before electricity, AC and modern technology were available.

Is Phoenix livable without AC? Or is Phoenix only possible as a city built in modern times because of the existence of AC?

Phoenix *grew* a lot with the existence of A/C, but it didn't preclude the existence of Phoenix - the city was here long, long before A/C, and people lived here long before there was a Phoenix too. What's more, people can actually adapt better to heat - especially a dry heat - as long as they have water. It's cold and humidity that made places like Chicago unbearable until the advent of heat and A/C. So yes, Phoenix is livable in the summer without A/C. It wouldn't be *pleasant* but it's *livable*, just as Chicago would be livable in the winter without heat. And, if anything, Chicago's cold would potentially be more deadly.

[olegk]

For “average person” term describing very dependant, fitness lazy and tending to blame/complain about everything and anything living without AC in Phoenix would be hell. Last summer I spend few days in desert… walking not just sitting next to cooler with beer. After I came home I had to change temp setting to 90 instead of 81 for some time to let me adapt to cooler temperature. If you healthy you can adapt, no problem.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by olegk

For “average person” term describing very dependant, fitness lazy and tending to blame/complain about everything and anything living without AC in Phoenix would be hell. Last summer I spend few days in desert… walking not just sitting next to cooler with beer. After I came home I had to change temp setting to 90 instead of 81 for some time to let me adapt to cooler temperature. If you healthy you can adapt, no problem.

Good point about the relative temps. I think a good deal of the heat problem people have comes from the thermal shock of walking from 70-something to 110-something as we exit a building. I have noticed that the heat doesn't really bother that much when I am camping or fishing one of the desert lakes and I adjust with it as the day wears on. The sun is awful though, and you gotta have some shade out there.

[Vinny536]

it is certainly livable with no ac. If AC were never invented then i don't think the population would be as large as it is now. I have several friends who have no AC in their cars and couldn't car less.

[MaxPower123]

Originally Posted by 61scout80

it is certainly livable with no ac. If AC were never invented then i don't think the population would be as large as it is now. I have several friends who have no AC in their cars and couldn't car less.

Why can't they car any less?