🥗

Starter

The Cool Life 😎

It might be one of the greatest inventions of all time. 🆒 

Because thanks to this special technology, we’ve managed to bend the laws of nature inside our homes, offices, and cars.

Without it? Nights get restless, mornings sluggish, and moods bad. 😠 

Offices would dissolve into chaos, public transportation would turn into rolling saunas, and entire cities like Las Vegas, Dubai, and Singapore wouldn’t exist.

Air conditioning doesn’t just cool a room.

It cools us and makes life in August bearable.

But here’s the thing: the same technology that saves us every summer is also slowly cooking the planet. 🍳 

And yet… we can’t imagine living without it.

So, how does air conditioning actually affect us - our bodies, our health, our world? 🌍️ 

And are there hidden upsides we’re overlooking?

Let’s flow into it. 👇

🥙

Main Course

The Truth About ACs ❄️

What is air conditioning?

Air conditioning is a technology that moves heat from inside your home to the outside. 🏡 

How does it work?

A special liquid called refrigerant flows through coils inside your home, absorbing heat from the air.

A compressor then pumps this heated liquid to coils outside your home, where it releases the heat into the outdoor air.

The cooled liquid flows back inside to repeat the cycle. ♻️ 

Think of it like a conveyor belt constantly moving heat from inside to outside.

💡 Fun fact: The first AC was built in 1902 - originally to control humidity in a printing factory, not to keep people comfy.

Why do people use it?

Because we want to stay cool during hot periods.

We feel better, are more productive, and sleep better. 💤 

The problem?

About 10% of global electricity use goes to cooling buildings. That number has almost tripled since the 1990s. 👀 

AC units pump heat outside, which makes cities hotter.

And the more we use it, the less heat-tolerant we become.

In other words: AC spoils us!

But what about the dangers of air conditioning?

Running AC 24/7 might feel amazing… but it’s not always doing your body (or the planet) any favors.

It can:

• increase dehydration 💧 

• lead to sick building syndrome (respiratory disease)

• increase mortality ☠️ 

• weaken your lungs’ natural defenses

• cause headaches 🤯 

• lower your natural heat tolerance 💦 

• increase air pollution ☢️ 

• cause allergic symptoms

AC can save us from heat strokes, but too much of it makes us weaker in the long run!

👩‍🍳 Chef Tip: You don’t have to rely on AC alone to stay cool.

Humans have been beating the heat for thousands of years with natural hacks - from shade and ventilation to smart building design. 🌲 

🍰

Dessert

How to Stay Cool 🆒

No AC at home?

Sweating your a** off during hot summer days?

Just wishing your home felt a little cooler?

I feel you!!

Here’s a cheap, sustainable, and easy checklist I created to help you cool your home:

🥵 Block the Heat Before It Enters

• Close blinds/curtains during peak sun hours 🌞

• Use reflective window film or light-colored curtains to reflect the sun rays

• Create shade with plants, trees, or awnings if possible 🌳

🌬️ Boost Natural Ventilation

• Open windows at night or early morning when it’s cooler 🌄 

• Open opposite windows/doors to create a cross-breeze

• Pro tip: Place one fan pointing in and another pointing out to move hot air out

🔥 Reduce Indoor Heat Sources

• Swap incandescent bulbs for LEDs 💡

• Cook outside (grill, BBQ) or use small appliances instead of the oven

• Unplug electronics and chargers when not in use - they radiate heat 🔌

🏠️ Optimize Your Home’s Insulation

• Seal gaps and cracks around windows/doors 🚪 

• Use heavy curtains to block heat transfer

• Add solar panels to cool down indoor temperature

🧊 Stay Cool the Low-Tech Way

• Put a humid/damp sheet or towel in front of a fan (DIY evaporative cooling)

• Sleep with breathable cotton or linen sheets

• Place bowls of ice in front of fans for a temporary cool boost ❄️

🌍️ Think Long-Term Sustainable

• Install solar panels to power fans or AC sustainably ☀️

• Upgrade to energy-efficient windows and roofing

• Plant shade trees (bonus: use collected rainwater to keep them thriving)

My tip: If you do get an AC, invest in one that’s energy-efficient and planet-friendly.

Your wallet and the earth will thank you. ❤️

🥜

Snacks

Dad Joke of the Week

A Deep Question

What tiny daily habit reminds you of the person you want to become?

A Friendly Reminder

🎁

Takeaway  

You aren’t satisfied yet? 

Here are my Ingredients and Recommendations for you:

🎙️ Podcasts

• How Air Conditioning Is Quietly Breaking Your Body and the Planet (SuperLife with Darin Olien)

• Air Conditioning (Patented: History of Inventions)

• Air Conditioner Sounds (8 Hours) | White Noise for Sleeping (Calming White Noise Podcast)

📚️ Book

• Air Conditioning (Hsuan L. Hsu)

• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technology (Silberstein & Co.)

📺️ Videos

• Can We Solve the Air Conditioning Paradox? (Be Smart)

• How to cool our homes (even without ACs) (DW Planet A)

• How does an air conditioner actually work? (TED-Ed)

• Air Conditioning System Basics hvacr how does it work (The Engineering Mindset)

📑 Articles

• Air Conditioning Could Put You at Risk of 'Sick Building Syndrome' (sciencealert)

• Why Does Air Conditioning Make Me Cough? (Healthline.com)

• Why can air conditioning cause a headache? (MedicalNewsToday)

• Can Air Conditioning Make You Sick? (Time.com)

• What Air Conditioning Does to Your Body (WebMD)

Thank you for being here 💝 

Looking forward to serving you next week.

Much love,

Benji