The assumption is that we as individuals and as a people are comfort oriented, no matter what the cost. Brown-outs, black-outs and high utility bills are meaningless in the face of our comfort.

It assumes that natural summer temperatures are too uncomfortable for people to bear.  That people can and will exert their control over nature to make their environment the most comfortable temperature for them…unless you work in an office and someone else controls the thermostat!

It assumes, to a significant extent, that there is very little necessary connection between the indoors and the outdoors.  Further, it assumes humans were meant to live primarily indoors.

That the temperature can be too hot and that we can do something about it at the personal level.

That world is hot.  One should not be overheated.  Sweat is something to avoided.

We can live in particular places throughout the whole year (itinerant lifestyle as some Native American is not necessary).  In addition, we can function continuously at relatively the same levels (i.e., strength doesn’t go up and down with the various seasons).  Note:  Heating systems are necessary in some form during winter throughout the state in which I live (Pennsylvania).

It assumes that electric power is available and affordable.

It assumes that human comfort can be circumscribed in a narrow range of temperatures from about 68 to about 78 degrees Farenheit, and that temperatures outside of this range are “uncomfortable” and therefore are to be wrestled into submission by whatever means necessary.

That people will go to great technological means to insure that they are comfortable.

Air Conditioning assumes that we can and should control our environment to our liking. Or, in other words, it assumes that we are masters of our surroundings.

It assumes that old people don’t have to die in summer if, for a few hundred dollars, we can protect them from the extremes of heat (as in the winter, we do of cold).

That the world we live in is not in all ways conducive to human life and activity.

It assumes that, unless one is engaged in “fitness” activities (and takes steps to keep hydration and electrolytes at proper levels), one should not bear the signs of physical exertion.  Only those not qualified for desk jobs should endure the discomfort and indignity of perspiration.

Temperature regulated. Specifically, regulated to be cooler.

I agree with Matt that our society’s coming to see air conditioning as a right, something we’re entitled to.  Heaven forbid we sweat, have perspiration circles under our armpits.  How awful!

It assumes that the world should be kept between 68 and 78 degrees Farenheit year round (except around swimming pools and ski runs, of course).

It assumes that the world should be comfortable and not extreme. It also assumes that our comfort should be a high priority.

... for conservative businesses and churches to maintain a dress code involving multiple layers of long-sleeved apparel year round.

The massive population growth in the sunbelt over recent decades.

refrigerators, super markets, indoor ice skating rinks year round, large computer systems/supercomputers/data centers in places other than the arctic/antarctic - (huge implications)

I confess air conditioning is a luxury.  At present I’m willing and able to pay for it.  It is a priority for me and I looked forward to the opportunity of having central air when I moved several years ago [from Pittsburgh to Mount Joy, PA]

I think it’s better appreciated when you can work outside and then come in to enjoy it.  Air conditioning makes me a much more pleasant person to be around after having worked outside for a long time.

It makes it possible to enjoy a bowl of ice cream in the middle of August for much longer than would be possible without it.

Delicate electronics working properly despite being baked under the mid-day sun. 

Remember that indoor lighting wasn’t solely for comfort; it enabled factories to work through the night - convienence cuts both ways :)

It makes it possible to make fewer adjustments to the pace of life in hot weather. In developing nations where the weather gets unbearably hot, life simply slows down for everybody. In Afghanistan, for example, my friends have days where, for the middle hours, they rest; little work is done. Not so here. With A/C we expect the dog days of summer to be just as productive as other times of year. And that’s really too bad, if you ask me.

It also makes strange allergies, colds and sinus trouble in the summer, when we go between extreme temperatures and humidity levels throughout the day.

AC lets people with allergies enjoy the summer without having to have the windows open, and being miserable.

Air conditioning has made it possible for Phoenix, AZ (where I live) to become one of the largest cities in the U.S. A/C allows people to get through the high summer temperatures (often 110 degrees or more) to reach the truly mild (and enjoyable) late autumn/winter/early spring months.

it makes it impossible to sit in a hot room without saying to yourself “why don’t they have A/C in this place?!”

Air conditioning has made it impossible to open the windows in most modern office buildings.

Listening to the outdoor sounds of kids playing, street traffic (Pittsburgh experience), or night time sounds (rural Lancaster County experience).

It has made it impossible to stay connected to the outside world. Similar to central heating, air conditioning has sharpened the distinction between “in here” and “out there” to such an extreme degree that many people now consider “out there” positively evil, a thing to be avoided at all costs. So for many, the very idea of spending time out of doors has come to be impossible.

It creates a culture that turns to various media during the day for the latest information concerning weather they’ll likely never experience first hand for in excess of 30 seconds.

Through the years, many have found refuge from the heat in the cool of movie theaters, libraries, and malls.  Some have and continue to spend their whole afternoon in such places!  Our family did when in Pittsburgh with open windows, some fans, and 2 Air Conditioning unit (the house couldn’t take more than that, they only served 1 bedroom and the dining room).

In addition, more indoor activities with more energy exerted than could if held outside, i.e,. unless in a pool party. 

People used to sit outside on their porches and talk with friends in the neighborhood, now people are more comfortable being inside.  Note:  Porch conversations and playing in yards was still occurring where we lived in the City of Pittsburgh.

Interesting to think about the culture that was created by _scarce_ air conditioning…the culture of cool movie theaters, of families huddled in one room of the house.
Ubiquitous air conditioning creates a very different culture: the culture of living indoors. We have trained ourselves to sense outdoor ambient temperatures below about 65 degrees and above about 80 degrees as “too cold” and “too hot” to be outside, and have therefore become a building-dwelling species. This, in turn, has made us more than ever the victims of our indoor environments: the glow of fluorescent lights, the whoosh of air systems, the (toxic) aroma of carpeting, where we now spend 99 percent of our time. Sadly, it has not made us more attentive, for the most part, to how we can make those environments more wonderful.

Well with the right air filters you can blockout a ton of dust est..We use MERV 13 rated filters. My girls has dust allergies and this has helped us out.

Thanks,
Mike

You have the ability to become more productive.