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Thermostat settings
The AC at work[1] has public-access thermostats. As I've been thinking about my own carbon footprint lately, I've been paying attention to what those thermostats are set to. They all seem to be set rather cold -- mostly in the 71-73[2] range, but on a few occasions, I've seen as low as 68. I try to keep the one near me at 75, but occasionally people set it lower.
At home, I also have central AC. When I'm not home, it's shut off. When I am home, it's set to 78. If it's cool enough outside, I shut off the AC, open up some windows, and set a fan to try to get air circulating through them.
Do you have an air conditioner? If so, is it central or room? And either way, where do you have the thermostat[3] set?
[1] Nominally central, but in actuality a bunch of separately controlled units with a 40+ year age span.
[2] All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. It's what they're all instrumented in, and what I most easily think in.
[3] I'm assuming your room AC, if that's the case, has a thermostat, instead of a "more cool/less cool" control.
At home, I also have central AC. When I'm not home, it's shut off. When I am home, it's set to 78. If it's cool enough outside, I shut off the AC, open up some windows, and set a fan to try to get air circulating through them.
Do you have an air conditioner? If so, is it central or room? And either way, where do you have the thermostat[3] set?
[1] Nominally central, but in actuality a bunch of separately controlled units with a 40+ year age span.
[2] All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. It's what they're all instrumented in, and what I most easily think in.
[3] I'm assuming your room AC, if that's the case, has a thermostat, instead of a "more cool/less cool" control.
no subject
There is a social aspect. Humans are social creatures. An outlier -- which I am pretty sure I qualify as -- can make it easier for others to nudge their own thermostat a degree or two. It can also show some amount of general societal willingness to accept business regulations that would affect end consumers[1]. Individual conservation can also help keep the idea of conservation in mind, as that chosen inconvenience affects daily life.
That said, if the individual conservation is preventing those critically important business regulations from being talked about, proposed, or enacted, then I'd definitely prefer the conservation effort be put toward establishing those regulations.
[1] While I don't know the precise form those regulations might take, I can guess that building construction and maintenance, HVAC systems, and vehicles will be significant targets.