by Cooper Climate Control
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Air conditioning is easy to take for granted. For most people living in areas with hot summers, air conditioning can seem like an essential part of life, so much so that the influence of air conditioning on America can be easily overlooked. The fact is that air conditioning has had a dramatic impact on many aspects of American life, from work and industry to architecture to city living and more.
Public Health
As can be seen by the deadly effect of unusual heat waves in areas where AC isn’t widespread (such as the 2003 European heatwave), heat waves can actually be hazardous for people who are elderly or in poor health, especially if they aren’t used to dealing with poor weather. While heat related deaths have never been a widespread issue for young, healthy people, AC has had a big role in reducing heat-related fatalities overall.
In addition, certain people have health conditions which benefit from air conditioning. People with allergies and asthma, for example, benefit from AC’s ability to filter particulate matter out of the air.
Architecture
Before air conditioning, homes in hot areas were created with an eye towards maximizing air flow. The features associated with old houses weren’t just for decoration; rather, they had a functional role in helping people cope with the heat. Large windows, high ceilings, and big porches were all used to combat hot summer temperatures. Some homes even featured sleeping porches which were used in the summer. While this may seem a relatively minor aspect of life, the impact on architecture has been quite noticeable.
Industry
Many industrial processes have been facilitated by the use of air conditioning to control temperature and humidity. This is especially true of industries where the machinery gives off a lot of heat and the product is heat-sensitive, such as the color printing and computer industries. Without air conditioning, the computer industry would not be what it is today.
Cities
Perhaps the most obvious aspect of the influence of air conditioning on America is the way the American population has shifted since air conditioning became widespread. Over the decades since the introduction of air conditioning, the Sunbelt states have come to take up a bigger proportion of the U.S. population, growing from 28% of the country’s population in 1950, to 40% of the country’s population today. While air conditioning wasn’t the only factor in this change, it did make the area a more feasible place to live for many people, especially since city living presents bigger heat problems than living in the country.
Air conditioning doesn’t just make hot areas more comfortable to live in; it facilitates many aspects of city living. Since people are able to close their windows at night, AC makes life safer for people living in cities. In addition, the influence of air conditioning on America made it possible for people to work the traditional 9-5 office workday even in hot areas.
Today, 2013 let Cooper Climate Control be your heating & cooling specialist to the end of time.
