For Humanity, Air Conditioning Beats Sliced Bread

Air conditioning is one of the greatest things ever to have happened for humanity. Of course, the discovery of fire tops it. Yes, the growth of penicillin as a medical treatment ranks higher. No, we would not have homes into which we could install the blessed flow of coolness if we had not developed tools along the way. Granted, sliced bread is still pretty neat. Nonetheless, A/C is awesome in its ability to comfort and civilize.

If you live in San Diego, California, you may consider this to be an extreme opinion. You also live someplace where open windows will cool a house quite well almost every warm day of the year. For those living where heat and humidity conspire to grind productivity and pleasantry to a halt, the veneration of air conditioning is not hyperbole. It is a reasonable response to this significant contributor to everyone's ability to remain civil when it is sweltering outside.

Homes in the South have high ceilings and ceiling fans and architectural layouts designed to capitalize on any shred of a natural breeze that might occur in the summer months. Still, there is nothing quite so glorious in May, June, July, August, or September as stepping into a building in which the temperature is roughly twenty to thirty degrees cooler than the heat index steaming the world outside.

To be clear, air conditioning is not the same thing as general refrigeration of a home or office. Sure, the same system is used. Absolutely, it is nice to know one could theoretically require a sweater on a day when steam rises from the sidewalk - though it is rude to inflict a frigid environment on the unsuspecting. Most people only drop the indoor temperature thirty degrees down from the one outside when the heat index is well over one hundred. They also tend to have energy efficient central systems.

There are myriad quoted variations on the notion that society is three deprived meals away from revolution or anarchy. Although food is primary within Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and air conditioning is never specifically mentioned, it may be fair to argue that civilized behavior in tropical climates is somewhat dependent upon access to air conditioning. People will band together in times of disaster and sweat peaceably. However, sweltering heat without reprieve will ultimately try the patience of anyone and everyone. Three days deprived of A/C might not lead to revolution, but it will lead to short tempers and general rudeness.

Robert Burns originated the phrase, "Man's inhumanity to man," in a poem he published in 1785. Melodramatic as the inverse of the phrase may seem in this case, man's humanity to man rests on the sturdy air conditioning units that hum efficiently through the hot months of steamy places. Ask anyone who has survived an extended power outage after a summer storm in the south.