subject: What Necessitates A Need For Air Conditioning In The Home? [print this page] The summer sun, as elusive as it can sometimes prove to be in Britain, can make us uncomfortably hot. Poorly ventilated spaces can turn the nice weather into a hassle rather than a blessing, but installing air conditioning can help to cool down stuffy workplaces and households.
Air conditioning in the home is often seen as something of a luxury in Britain, despite countries such as Spain and Cyprus viewing it as a necessity. However, one advantage of global warming has been a steady upturn in the temperatures we experience in Britain, and our summers are slowly getting hotter and hotter. Often referred to as air con or AC, these units are becoming more affordable and can make an enormous difference to the level of comfort experienced by people in buildings or vehicles that are affected by the heat.
Certain types of buildings are more susceptible to the heat and can become clammy very quickly when the sun is shining. This is often dependant on structural design, with buildings that are blocked in on two or more sides, particularly terraced-style housing, being most likely to overheat. It is not just structural considerations that can affect the amount buildings conduct and retain heat though. Window design that allows a lot of natural light in, especially direct sunlight, gives the impression of keeping a building cool and airy but it can have the reverse effect and expose the building to too much heat; creating something of a greenhouse effect.
The actual contents and a room's frequency of use can also impact how humid and muggy it can become. Rooms that contain a lot of electrical appliances that are consistently running can become uncomfortably warm, particularly on second or third stories, with heat rising up from the ground floor. Unsurprisingly, kitchens can become very humid and extractor fans are not always sufficient to clear the warm air. Furthermore, rooms that are regularly used can become very warm, with meeting rooms and living spaces especially being affected by body heat from people and pets.
Should the climate continue to change, there may begin to be a trend towards a more Spanish style of housing, with white, airy decor and open plan living spaces. Currently this doesn't fit the British climate, as it proves to be too open and cold during the winter months. Air conditioning can act as a compromise between the British and Spanish style, and can also help to heat up a room during chillier periods on top of the primary function of cooling you down during the summer months. Air conditioning essentially modifies the state of the air, meaning it can either heat up or cool down the air that is circulated around a room.
