Thursday, June 14, 2007

A growing need


Since I am officially the Grinch and a Nazi all rolled into one when it comes to using the air conditioning at my home, I felt a measure of satisfaction when I saw this poll.

When my wife and kids complain that an 83-degree living room is too hot for them, I have occasionally told them that for most of history, people--tough, manly people--did not have climate controlled lives.

They don't care.

So anyway, this poll proves that people are getting whimpier (is that a word?). In just the past ten years, the number of people who think air conditioning is a necesity has risen 18 percent. Since 1973 it has grown 50 percent!

I guess I should have been an accountant. Seeing how little electricity I can use is a bit of a game for me. When most people I know have $200-300 electricity bills, mine is rarely above $75.

Whoo-hoo! I win!

2 comments:

jon said...

Define "Win"? :P

I'm one of those who can't, but that's because I have asthma and need to eliminate humidity. Maryland electricity rates are going up over 150% this summer. Thanks to some mighty fine deregulation.

UGN said...

Hmm. I wonder if your deregulation is anything like my deregulation?

When we were having our California energy crisis a few hot summers ago, it was very popular for the press to blame deregulation and greedy capitalists. Now don't press me for the details because they were complicated back then when I knew what I was talking about, but what they called deregulation really wasn't. The bottom line was that if there REALLY was deregulation, rates would go down when power companies compete. True deregulation would allow that to happen. Do you have a choice of who to buy your kilowatts from? I don't.