a bit chilly
Sep. 18th, 2008 08:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deird_ljThere's a twisted sort of logic used by the people who program the air conditioner at my work.
You see, because we're on something called a planet, which rotates, we have these things called seasons. There's a season called summer, which is very hot, and a season called winter, which is cold. Right now we're in the bit in between - known as spring - which is a bit hotter than winter, but not quite as hot as summer.
And air conditioners are used to make things colder.
So, whoever takes care of such things decided that the air conditioner would be needed more during summer than during winter, so that the cold air produced by the air conditioner would counteract the warm weather produced by the summer.
This works in theory.
Unfortunately for air conditioning logic, we also have these things called clothes. Clothes are these multipurpose bits of fabric that, among other things, help people cope with different temperatures.
And, as a general rule, people will wear warm clothes in winter, and cool clothes during summer, to deal with the temperature changes.
Here is where we have a problem.
You see, during winter, the air conditioner is on a very low setting. It's cold outside, so putting the air conditioner on any higher would just make it even colder inside. So the air conditioner stays low, the temperature stays at about 15 degrees (59 fahrenheit), and we're all wearing clothes that are designed for 15 degree weather, so we're all very comfortable.
Now, though, we've hit spring. And it's starting to be hotter outside.
We are celebrating by breaking out the cooler-clothes from storage, and wearing them in to work so that we feel very comfortable outside at lunchtime.
Outside at lunchtime this week, it's about 23 degrees (73 fahrenheit).
Inside the office, however, the air conditioning has been bumped up a few notches. It being hotter than we've been used to all winter, they are compensating by turning it on higher.
And it's working better.
So the temperature in the office has dropped to about 11 degrees (52 fahrenheit).
Quite a few people, myself included, have started keeping very heavy coats in desk drawers, so that we can come into work in our short-sleeved tops and skirts, and then sit at our desks rugged up as much as possible, so that we don't freeze...
I'm really hoping that, by the height of summer, they've figured it out.
Can you imagine trying to dress for a day that will be 40 degrees (104 fahrenheit) outside, and 6 degrees (42 fahrenheit) inside?
You see, because we're on something called a planet, which rotates, we have these things called seasons. There's a season called summer, which is very hot, and a season called winter, which is cold. Right now we're in the bit in between - known as spring - which is a bit hotter than winter, but not quite as hot as summer.
And air conditioners are used to make things colder.
So, whoever takes care of such things decided that the air conditioner would be needed more during summer than during winter, so that the cold air produced by the air conditioner would counteract the warm weather produced by the summer.
This works in theory.
Unfortunately for air conditioning logic, we also have these things called clothes. Clothes are these multipurpose bits of fabric that, among other things, help people cope with different temperatures.
And, as a general rule, people will wear warm clothes in winter, and cool clothes during summer, to deal with the temperature changes.
Here is where we have a problem.
You see, during winter, the air conditioner is on a very low setting. It's cold outside, so putting the air conditioner on any higher would just make it even colder inside. So the air conditioner stays low, the temperature stays at about 15 degrees (59 fahrenheit), and we're all wearing clothes that are designed for 15 degree weather, so we're all very comfortable.
Now, though, we've hit spring. And it's starting to be hotter outside.
We are celebrating by breaking out the cooler-clothes from storage, and wearing them in to work so that we feel very comfortable outside at lunchtime.
Outside at lunchtime this week, it's about 23 degrees (73 fahrenheit).
Inside the office, however, the air conditioning has been bumped up a few notches. It being hotter than we've been used to all winter, they are compensating by turning it on higher.
And it's working better.
So the temperature in the office has dropped to about 11 degrees (52 fahrenheit).
Quite a few people, myself included, have started keeping very heavy coats in desk drawers, so that we can come into work in our short-sleeved tops and skirts, and then sit at our desks rugged up as much as possible, so that we don't freeze...
I'm really hoping that, by the height of summer, they've figured it out.
Can you imagine trying to dress for a day that will be 40 degrees (104 fahrenheit) outside, and 6 degrees (42 fahrenheit) inside?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-17 11:39 pm (UTC)Although, I work in a windowless basement, where, thanks to being surrounded by collection objects, it's a constant pleasant 18-21C or so. I think.
Some days it feels really cold, some days not.
Either way, I have to wear a light jacket down here in Winter, and often in Summer too.
The constant roar of the aircon ducts overhead tends to drown out too much thought though...
Next job, I want sunlight.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 03:00 am (UTC)η
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 03:44 am (UTC)Absolutely.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 03:46 am (UTC)You're very welcome! I had to learn how to convert between the two years ago, because I got so utterly sick of hearing Americans talking about 100 degree days (100 degrees, to me, being the boiling temperature of water)...
And yes, the air-con is remarkably efficient. One of the perks of living in Australia.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 10:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 10:45 am (UTC)but yeah, we deal with some pretty miserably hot days, too.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 12:05 pm (UTC)η
From Laney
Date: 2008-09-18 10:22 pm (UTC)Maybe it's a secret policy to make sure everyone in the theatre snuggles each other as much as possible... ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 10:55 pm (UTC)Hey Mez, you might meet someone nice at work that way? ;-)
no subject
Date: 2008-09-18 10:57 pm (UTC)Must stop bringing warm coats in...
no subject
Date: 2008-09-19 03:49 am (UTC)On the hot summer days, the aircon simply cannot keep up. However, it does have some rather interesting bugs if you try to MAKE it keep up.
Turn it too low (Below about 18C/64F) and the system on the roof will actually -freeze over-, despite the horrible temperatures both within and without. This includes the thermostat which tells it what the temperature actually is, in comparison to what the temperature should be.
So the poor AC, thinking that it is suddenly obscenely cold, starts pumping HOT AIR into our already 40C/100+F restaurant.
Customers and workers alike = not amused. XD
Fortunately, I think we've replaced the system with a somewhat stronger one now... we'll have to see how it goes when summer rocks around.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-19 06:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-05 11:12 am (UTC)