Monday, October 22, 2012

Dress Appropriately for the Weather

I changed the sheets today.  I did not put the flannel sheets on.  Thankfully it's not quite time for flannel sheets or electric blankets.  It's supposed to be 70° this week!  I even slept with the window open last night, and I'm planning to leave it open at least for the next couple nights.  I don't even care if it gets a little chilly!  (though it's not supposed to)

That's right - I really don't mind getting a little chilly when it's a natural chilly - as opposed to paying to be cold by running the air conditioner.  If it's actually supposed to be chilly, I can live with that.  Then it's time for those flannel sheets - and sweatshirts and socks.  I love fall weather and wearing warmer clothes.  The problem is when it's summertime, and I'm wearing summer clothes like shorts and tank tops and sundresses, and I don't think I should have to bundle up.  So I only turn the air on when I absolutely have to - like when it's in the 90's with high humidity for several days straight, or when the rest of the family complains too much.
A typical home air conditioning unit.
A typical home air conditioning unit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


I did learn this summer that it's important to run the air conditioning at least once in a while, whether we need it or not.  The first time we turned it on this summer, it would not work.  Apparently, the motor froze up because we don't use it enough.  Thankfully we have a neighbor who worked for a company that specializes in heating and air conditioning systems, and he came down and checked it out for us.  He was able to get it going that night and then get a new part and fix it for us for a reasonable price.  That really helped us out and helped our neighbor out a bit, too.  It was a very hot summer, so even I appreciated it - and that's saying a lot!

I don't know if you've seen the commercial where the man in jeans and a flannel shirt is fighting with himself, trying to keep himself from turning the thermostat down?  He's too hot - obviously, since he's not dressed appropriately for summer - and he wants to turn the air conditioning colder.  Instead of putting some summer clothes on!  The commercial is trying to sell some kind of air conditioning system that would allow this guy to cool his rooms down so he isn't all sweaty in his flannel and jeans.  I think the point really is - dress appropriately for the weather, and you don't have to cool your house to the point of refrigeration in the summer, and you won't have to turn the heat up so much in the winter.  Just a few degrees either way can make a huge difference on your power bill.  Also, I don't think I'd dislike air conditioning so much if stores, restaurants and other public places would adjust the temperature so that it's comfortable for people who are dressed appropriately for the outside weather.


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