The human race has always been striving to gain control over its surroundings. In winter we try to provide ourselves with warmth and shelter to stay alive, and in summer we do what we can to stay cool. Nothing changed much in the way that we achieved these aims until the last hundred years. A few key discoveries and major technical advances have given us total power over our living conditions from the 20th century onwards.

Throughout history, man's main preoccupation seems to have been keeping warm in the winter. All kinds of fuels have been used, and many different variations on the boiler theory, to create warmth and warm water so that we stay comfortable no matter how cold it gets in the winter. From simple open fires that were used in caves, to elaborate boilers erected by the people of Europe from early on.

The heat of summer, however, has always been more of a problem in some areas. A simple breeze can be a precious thing on a long, hot summer's day. During the long hot summer months, activity would be restricted as people tried to conserve strength in unbearably hot circumstances.

Early Air Conditioning

In fact, the first recorded attempt at creating an air conditioned building is thought to be hospitals erected by Avicenna, the famous Middle Eastern thinker and scientist. He built his hospitals after studying the topography of the land and the direction of the wind, picking spots that were cool and as healthy as possible. The rooms, windows and openings of his buildings would all take advantage of any prevailing breeze.

Today, we no longer need to study the lay of the land to get comfort on a hot summer's day. We can simply install an air conditioning system. But as Avicenna discovered, cooler air is not just a matter of human comfort. It can also mean that health is affected positively. Lots of illnesses can be made worse in the very hot weather.

Heat and Health

Our immune systems can be adversely affected by relentless heat. We all know what it's like to feel listless and lethargic: it simply becomes too hot to move. So having a cool atmosphere can improve so many aspects of our lives. We instantly feel more alive when the temperature is comfortable. We have the energy to get up and go; our brains even respond positively.

In areas where temperatures are commonly above the danger level of 85°F in the summer, it makes a lot of sense to install air conditioning. Whether in a home or office environment, heat stroke and heat exhaustion can become serious threats to health. If the cost of air conditioning is a worry, there are simple steps that can be taken to maximize the efficiency of an air conditioner.

Cutting Energy Costs

Basically, anything that you'd do in the winter to protect from heat loss will also apply in the summer to protect from the loss of cool air. Insulation is an excellent way of cutting down thermal exchange through the walls and roof. Taking steps to make sure that doors and windows stay tightly closed also make sense. Any heat producing machinery should be vented to the outside if at all possible.

Installing an efficient air conditioning unit can also save on running costs. In general, older models are not energy efficient, which means they take more electricity to produce the same amount of cooling than a newer model. This is why buying used air conditioning units can often be a false economy. Buying a newer more efficient model can save you more money in the long run.