POLL: Hot Enough for Air Conditioner Yet? Tell If You've Flipped the Switch or Are Tempted
We're enjoying, if that's the right word, a record-setting March – for a few more days, at least.
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It's another week for bare limbs, open-toe footwear and iced beverages.
It's also time to consider indoor climate control. The letters A-C are being heard in households, shops and offices – sometimes along with a whirring sound that signals chill out.
Though the calendar says first week of spring, the temperature – above 80 again Thursday – says midsummer.
Government meteorologists flipped on air-conditioned comfort this week at the regional National Weather Service branch in White Lake. "It's also on at my house and has been since yesterday," Debra Elliott said when Patch checked Thursday.
She and colleagues posted data confirming this month is a record-setter:
- A high reading of 82 in the Detroit area Tuesday tied a March record set in 1945.
- Wednesday's high of 84 is a new record for the month.
- We've had nine straight days at 70 or warmer, as of Thursday. That hasn't happened during spring since April 1886.
- We've had 12 straight days at 60 or higher, beating the previous March record of nine in 1945.
But we don't need stats to sense something strange has sprung three weeks before Easter.
Jeanne DeKay, a marketing agency vice president in Bloomfield Township, "did not turn on my air and probably won't until April or May." She explains: "My goal is to wait as long as possible and use a few circulating tower fans to postpone the inevitable."
"It's hard not to be in a good mood when it's 80+ degrees in March – in Michigan," Pam Houghton of Troy posted on Facebook.
Contacted Thursday afternoon, Houghton – who said she likes wearing sandals and shorts this time of year -- added: "So far, we've gutted it out without turning on the air-conditioning. Even though it's warm in the house, it's so nice to have the windows open in March!"
The helpful weather wonks in White Lake on Thursday posted an explanation of what's up:
"The jet stream has been displaced well north of its typical position since the middle of last year. Now, with none of the typical ice on the Great Lakes to insulate Michigan from the effects of this unusually warm spring, record warmth has been allowed to surge into the state like never before."
The outlook from their air-conditioned office in northern Oakland County: "This streak does not look to end until the weekend, when forecast high temperatures are expected to dip down into the 50s."
Mike
4:39 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
We just open the windows at night let it get really cold inside then close them all before it gets hot outside.
Joni Hubred-Golden
4:58 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
I've been very tempted. But the longer we keep it off, the lower our utility bills!
Ed Lambert
10:40 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
There is also the ecological issue to think about. Do we contribute at least a tiny bit to the conservation of energy and resources by putting off the natural temptation to immediately eliminate every possible discomfort?
Time was when . . .
Ed, stop! Don't go there!
ExTroyGal
11:39 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
Ed, this is only one of your comments that I actually agree with.
Lucas Zdenek
11:52 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
I've considered it since my wife is pregnant and even 60 degree nights are "Too HOT!!" for her, but fans and open windows seem to work just fine for us. I did hear my neighbor's central air unit kick on a couple of nights ago though.
Scot Beaton
12:00 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
Alan,
I personal feel one of the greatest failures of 20th century architecture are buildings that are permanently sealed up at the end of their construction. Though I understand the benefits from those who suffer from allergies, its difficult to not to forget a different time when at work if you got to hot; you could just open up the window. Even tonight when I went out to dinner, in a sealed up restaurant in a strip mall they had the air on and I had to keep my sweater on ... what a waste of valuable energy ... let's hope as we continue to go 'green' we can reinvent a great old concept open up the window or door. Let's hope 21st century architecture is more about the enjoyment of nature, than a battle with nature.
thanks Alan for the post
Amanda Kirksey
6:58 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
We have had ours on for a couple days. It's not my favorite option, but our windows upstairs are low to the floor and it makes me nervous in the Pickies' rooms. The air conditioner gives me peace of mind. ;)
Jennifer Szarejko
7:29 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
I have asthma and allergies. If it gets bad enough that it causes me to have breathing problems it will go on. But right now fans and windows are open and really enjoying the cross breeze through the house :) I'm going to hate it when everything really starts to bud outside and I have to close up the house in order to breath :(
Laurie Smalis
8:21 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
I have two Pugs and a Shar Pei both heat sensitive breeds. While they have been sitting in front of the fan we did turn in the ac for just a little bit the other day . They sat in front of that too !
Duckengine
9:24 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
Only turned it on to test it. It will stay off as long as possible, or until the wife says she can't take it anymore...than just a few days more ;-)
Nate Stemen
10:26 am on Friday, March 23, 2012
I have a strict no air conditioning policy before July. That said, we just had a baby and I think the policy will be replaced by a new one--it's called the baby gets what the baby wants because mom and dad can't stand the crying anymore policy.
Marty Rosalik
1:03 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012
When the temperature in Farenheit plus relative humidity exceeds 160 it's AC on time.
Margaret Rayburn
2:54 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012
What a joy to have the windows open & the curtains flapping! Geez, wasn't long ago that we turned the heat off. Nothing like the smells of spring, less use of energy & lower utility bills!
Don
10:54 am on Monday, April 2, 2012
With DTE Energy always telling us we can save by cutting our use, is a joke. Then they go to Lansing, where they cry, less demand, we need another rate increase. Just like Detroit, Water, and Consumer gas. Cut back all you want, but your still going to pay for it in higher cost because the PSC in Lansing has a rubber stamp, yes to every rate increase, just like the Insurance commission.