Aircon, do we need it? Split from introduction topic

[graham59]

2 hours ago, Poorhex said:

Thanks! Thats some great advice.  My plan is to stay at manila ~2 month. Right now im thinking i will take some airbnb for ~350$ month.. after that i want to move somewhere province etc (i will make exact plan where when im already there). I dont like much AC thats good for me :D (should save some elec. bill also if i use fan only i guess?).

I have managed without aircon for 30 years in the Phils... fans only. No probs. You do tend to acclimatise to the heat and humidity here after a while anyway...IF you don't use aircon all the time.  It will also save you a lot of money. (electricity being disproportionately expensive here), plus (I believe) infections from bacteria, etc, in the aircon units.

Edited May 3, 2020 by graham59

[manofthecoldland]

10 hours ago, graham59 said:

I have managed without aircon for 30 years in the Phils... fans only. No probs. You do tend to acclimatise to the heat and humidity here after a while anyway...IF you don't use aircon all the time.  It will also save you a lot of money. (electricity being disproportionately expensive here), plus (I believe) infections from bacteria, etc, in the aircon units.

I agree.  No one enjoys feeling hot and 'sticky', and it can be a risk to the health of some since overheating can lead to heat rash, heat stroke, etc. I do not use A/C now, due to the more traditional,  open ventilation design of our house close to the sea with daily sea  breeze. But when I lived in rented concrete houses and apartments, it was compulsory for me.... since they are in effect, solar ovens with little or no free-flow air ventilation. In these habitats, some A/C use  is usually needed just to function, never mind comfort, 

That said, it is QUITE expensive compared to only multiple fan use. For many, its a matter of budget feasibility and personal frugality levels, so they accept and tolerate higher heat index levels, using a variety of techniques to cool down when the heat gets  to them. Long cooling showers or dipper dousing while seated on a woman's washing stool in the shower during the heat points of the day can quickly drop your body heat build-up to comfort levels. Any time, from 11 am till 3pm, a post-shower siesta in front of a fan also helps beat the worst of the day's heat if you live without A/C.

Graham is quite correct about the infectious dangers of uncleaned A/C filters.  Keeping them clean and sanitary is compulsory if you care about your health. My wife unknowingly made the mistake of checking into a low-cost hotel (probably a love hotel used  for mainly short timers) during a stop over enroute  to Iloilo while visiting family friends 10 months ago. She thought she would save us some pisos by trying a new place instead of using the usual, more expensive place.  What she didn't know, was that they were negligent in maintaining their A/C filters.  She never made it to Iloilo, but instead ended up in the town hospital for 5 days recovering form whatever bacteria or virus she picked up from that room's A/C.   Now she says that she'll only use fan rooms when I am not with her, when she wants to economize.

I like having late morning coffee at our many A/C malls, but prefer sitting in open-air, sea breeze restos with my mates for beer in the later afternoons. 

I also found that reducing unneeded body fat insulation and limiting my meals in number and quantity while living here makes a big difference in my body heat production.  I eat only 2 meals a day, but I eat more in the cold land, since when I short the  calories there, I experience feeling uncomfortably cold when my internal furnace goes unstoked of fuel too long.

I seldom feel uncomfortable with the heat level due to where and how I live, but most of my local expat friends they need A/C to live comfortably here. My wife doesn't like shopping at the mall grocery stores because of the  cold A/C there so prefers outdoor traditional markets for the basics. If she stays in A/C places too long, she doesn't  feel well. I think that's what they mean to being acclimated to the tropics.  I think riding in the trike gives her sufficient cool down time when running about on her necessary errands.

Unlike our ancestors of only a few generations back, most modern Westerners aren't willing or psychologically equipped to living without extensive temperature control technology. But they could adapt and revert to the old ways if forced to by circumstances since the poor of the world all live without extensive cooling technology. Its a lot easier to live with too much heat than too much cold.

[Tommy T.]

44 minutes ago, manofthecoldland said:

I agree.  No one enjoys feeling hot and 'sticky', and it can be a risk to the health of some since overheating can lead to heat rash, heat stroke, etc. I do not use A/C now, due to the more traditional,  open ventilation design of our house close to the sea with daily sea  breeze. But when I lived in rented concrete houses and apartments, it was compulsory for me.... since they are in effect, solar ovens with little or no free-flow air ventilation. In these habitats, some A/C use  is usually needed just to function, never mind comfort, 

 

I am hoping the new home will function like yours also. It is not near the sea, but is at a higher elevation and seems to catch breezes well. It also has lots of windows on all sides for maximum air flow plus awnings... We have air/con already installed in four spaces, but there will also be ceiling fans (quality ones) and floor fans as necessary. I prefer natural cooling, too, but will bail out for air/con at night if it is stifling hot without breeze. L has an interesting reaction to fanned breezes - they make her feel ill. Yet, natural breezes do not bother her unless excessive. So running a fan for me in bed at night is not an option...

[hk blues]

We managed for a couple of years without A/C.  But, it became more and more uncomfortable sleeping at night and I was dripping wet when I woke up.  So, we installed an A/C there.  It made things so much more comfortable and we then added a unit for the living room and finally a 3rd for my son's room.  We really tried hard to do without it but just couldn't.  We strictly control it's usage - evening time only and set to 27.  Total monthly electric bills range from 1,800 to 2,500 per month so not too bad I think.  If we were living in a more remote/open area it would be easier I'd imagine.

[GeoffH]

6 minutes ago, hk blues said:

Total monthly electric bills range from 1,800 to 2,500 per month so not too bad I think.  If we were living in a more remote/open area it would be easier I'd imagine.

The type of unit can make a big difference in the electric usage, we've got an older box type AC in the main bedroom in the house at CDO and it uses a lot of power, that's one of the things scheduled to be replaced during the updates.  The newer split system inverter AC units use a lot less power.

Edited May 4, 2020 by GeoffH

[graham59]

Renters don't normally have a choice.

The choice they DO have, is in what type of property they choose to rent, and the facilities available in that property.

Personally I would never CHOOSE to live in a concrete sweatbox of an apartment, whether here, or anywhere else in this world, but...'up to you'. 

My latest room...all concrete, also has large sliding windows, the mosquito mesh section of which can be opened to let fresh air in, and windows placed for maximum throughflow of air, helped by fans.   

Look to the locals first, for tips on living COOLER. They've had a lot of practice.   

[Tommy T.]

36 minutes ago, graham59 said:

Look to the locals first, for tips on living COOLER. They've had a lot of practice.   

You are absolutely correct, Graham. That's why the people living in the provinces and rural areas live in bamboo huts/houses with thatch roofs. In every country I visited in the Pacific, that was the common style of abode. Yes, of course, wealth - or lack of - had a lot to do with it too. The wealthier tended to the plywood or hollow block were constructed for the well off. They also withstood cyclone or typhoon conditions better for the most part. The bamboo and thatch were simply built anew.

But I spent time in both styles and the native huts were definitely cooler during the day and in the evenings when we shared food or kava...

Edited May 4, 2020 by Tommy T.

[jimeve]

My house is designed to do without air-con. Ground floor has 7 double windows and a double front entrance door and a rear entrance door all have mosquito screens and security bars so I can leave the doors and windows open. Same with the bedrooms on the second floor, they have a double door that lead onto the balcony. All the rooms have ceiling fans remote controlled.

Top floor is completely open apart from the firewall and only 200 meters from the sea we get a lovely sea breeze.

[hk blues]

1 hour ago, GeoffH said:

The type of unit can make a big difference in the electric usage, we've got an older box type AC in the main bedroom in the house at CDO and it uses a lot of power, that's one of the things scheduled to be replaced during the updates.  The newer split system inverter AC units use a lot less power.

We have a 1hp inverter split type in the BR and a 1.5hp split type  inverter in the LR - my son's BR has a 0.6hp window type.  I keep on top of cleaning and am happy with the performance/cost. 

[fillipino_wannabe]

I think I'd spend nearly as much on electric using the washing machine to wash the sheets everyday after they'd been covered in sweat if I slept without aircon.
Used to be fine in the day without when I lived by the sea with a breeze, it's not fun in Manila though. 

Edited May 4, 2020 by fillipino_wannabe