June 14, 2010

• Hard to breathe

  Does anyone else have a hard time breathing in Air Conditioning? I have a hard time breathing and get chest pain in Air conditioning.

  I was wondering if anyone else it like that.

  

  I have had this problem for 3 years now. I have done a lot of research online and came across some interesting facts like did you know it is estimated that a typical ceiling fan uses 1/30th the energy that a standard window air conditioner uses. Therefore you could have 30 fans throughout your house blowing on your every position for the cost of running one window air conditioner in a room that you probably only occupy for a small portion of the day.

  I will admit I find it interesting how many people when they find out that I have breathing problems in Air Conditioning tell me that they would not be able to survive with out A/C. There are many many people all over the world surviving with out it and everyone did back before it was invented.

  Here are some tips to surviving without A/C

  Turn off (and maybe even unplug) your appliances: Your computer, your tv, your chargers — all give off heat, as do your dishwasher and your clothes dryer. Try drying your dishes and clothes the old fashioned way (air drying and line drying). You’ll save energy and keep the house cooler.

  Soak your feet in a bucket of cold water.

  Cover Up: Covering up may actually keep your cooler, especially if the heat is low in humidity. In the scorching temperatures of the Middle Eastern deserts, traditional cultures wear clothing covering from head to toe. By protecting your skin from the sun beating down, you’ll also shade your skin. Be sure your clothing is natural fabrics, and loose.

  Use light-colored roofing. If you have the choice, choose a lighter roof or roof coating. It will reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it.

  Plant trees. Trees can shade your home or yard and keep things considerably cooler. Deciduous trees, those that lose their leaves in winter, will let sunlight through in winter when it’s desired and create shade in summer.

  Sitting outside, as older folks do here in the hotter months, isn’t just comfortable, it’s sociable.

  Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying of clothes, showering, and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air, but be sure to turn them off when you’re finished so they don’t extract cooled air from the house.

  Eat less. Smaller meals with less protein will reduce metabolic heat. Whatever you do eat should be cool and not require heat to be prepared (e.g. salads, sandwiches, etc.)

  Anyone else like us out there not use Air conditioners? Anyone else have a hard time breathing in A/C? If so what do you do when you go to stores and places with A/C? Do breathing masks help?
  

  • 5:26 am
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