Monday, September 03, 2007
Global Warming: Over-heating and over-cooling office buildings and apartment houses
The last building I lived in had 3 floors, with 2 apartments on each. The heating for all 6 was based upon the temperature in the coldest apartment. Consequently, in the dead of winter, I would leave my kitchen window open a little at all times and still frequently need to open my living room window as wide as it could go for the first few minutes after coming in from work. Even on the absolute coldest days, I would have to open my bedroom window each night. I would still wake up baking at 2am, my throat swollen and parched.
In my office, we had to open windows all winter as the only way to avoid overheating, getting headaches and struggling for consciousness in the afternoon. Now that it is summer, some offices are chilled to the point that people wear sweaters.
The most ridiculous lunch break I ever had was when I lived in New Orleans in 1985. I would always walk from home wearing a t-shirt and carrying a business shirt. Upon arrival, I would shut my office door and change, using the t-shirt as a towel. By afternoon I would be wearing a cardigan. Well, one day, after having washed the cardie, I forgot to take it back to the office. No way could I get through the afternoon without it, so I knew I would have to go home at lunchtime. I slowed down my walking. The round trip took me 50 minutes. I was drenched. Within an hour, I was freezing and wearing my cardigan.
So what is my point? It seems to me that all office buildings overheat and over-chill at least some of their premises, depending on the time of year. And we are worried about global warming. At least sensible people are. So why aren’t existing heating/cooling systems re-designed? Why aren’t all new buildings designed with individual thermostats in each office? Cost? How long would it take to recoup these costs? More importantly, how much unnecessary pollution is pumped into the atmosphere?
I understand this would entail additional hardware in offices, and I understand this translates into less rental space. Landlords will claim that the improvements I hope to see are impossible and will not happen in my lifetime. And I contend that all resistance to eco-friendly solutions must and will inevitably be legislated away. Perhaps there is a better solution that my suggestion. Fine! Do it!!
As for apartment buildings, obviously newer ones should be built more intelligently. But owners of older, steam heated buildings must be given a free and fair choice: Accept a low cost loan to divide their buildings into multiple heating zones, providing thermostats in each apartment, or be fined. I contend that no matter how expensive the work, every penny would be recouped within a year or two at the outside. I further contend that it is hypocrisy for the government to feign concern for the environment and ‘carbon footprints’ and not address these issues.
Viagra Online
In my office, we had to open windows all winter as the only way to avoid overheating, getting headaches and struggling for consciousness in the afternoon. Now that it is summer, some offices are chilled to the point that people wear sweaters.
The most ridiculous lunch break I ever had was when I lived in New Orleans in 1985. I would always walk from home wearing a t-shirt and carrying a business shirt. Upon arrival, I would shut my office door and change, using the t-shirt as a towel. By afternoon I would be wearing a cardigan. Well, one day, after having washed the cardie, I forgot to take it back to the office. No way could I get through the afternoon without it, so I knew I would have to go home at lunchtime. I slowed down my walking. The round trip took me 50 minutes. I was drenched. Within an hour, I was freezing and wearing my cardigan.
So what is my point? It seems to me that all office buildings overheat and over-chill at least some of their premises, depending on the time of year. And we are worried about global warming. At least sensible people are. So why aren’t existing heating/cooling systems re-designed? Why aren’t all new buildings designed with individual thermostats in each office? Cost? How long would it take to recoup these costs? More importantly, how much unnecessary pollution is pumped into the atmosphere?
I understand this would entail additional hardware in offices, and I understand this translates into less rental space. Landlords will claim that the improvements I hope to see are impossible and will not happen in my lifetime. And I contend that all resistance to eco-friendly solutions must and will inevitably be legislated away. Perhaps there is a better solution that my suggestion. Fine! Do it!!
As for apartment buildings, obviously newer ones should be built more intelligently. But owners of older, steam heated buildings must be given a free and fair choice: Accept a low cost loan to divide their buildings into multiple heating zones, providing thermostats in each apartment, or be fined. I contend that no matter how expensive the work, every penny would be recouped within a year or two at the outside. I further contend that it is hypocrisy for the government to feign concern for the environment and ‘carbon footprints’ and not address these issues.
