In case you haven't guessed from my last two postings, I'm in Singapore for a few days.

Singapore has the same tropical climate as Bali but when packing to come here I always bring warm clothes. Unlike Bali, where the majority of people still spend a great deal of time outdoors and hardly any Balinese like to use air-conditioning at night when they sleep, Singapore has evolved into a culture where many people spend the majority of their time indoors and air-conditioning is perceived as highly desirable 24 hours a day. It's the same in many other modern cities located in hot, humid climates.

I therefore always bring warm clothing with me - not to wear outside but to put on when I'm inside, especially in taxis and restaurants, where the temperature is invariably set to incredibly cold.

The photo here shows an amazing array of air conditioning units lining a tiny back street I have nameed Air Conditioner Alley, located between two rows of classy restaurants in the heart of Singapore. The buildings all look glossy and beautiful at the front but it's a very different story when you take a peek behind.

In colonial times, buildings in Singapore were designed with efficient natural airflows, and you can still visit places like this here today where simply opening the windows is enough to keep the rooms cooled to a very tolerable level. But now they build buildings with so little ventilation that they can only be cooled by air-conditioning. And many buildings don't even have windows you can open if you want to! How did depending on air-conditioning like this ever get to be a way of life?

Apart from the huge ecological cost to the planet of using excessive air-conditioning, many studies have shown that people who live and work in permanently air-conditioned spaces develop compromised immune systems. Their bodies become so used to living within a narrow band of temperature fluctuations that their immune systems lose their resilience so they are generally the first people to succumb when there is a bout of cold or flu going round. It's similar to the autoimmune problems that are now known to arise with children who are brought up in environments that are too hygienic and sterile. Scientists now know what our grandparents always knew - that it's healthy to be exposed to some dirt and germs in our formative years in order to build up resistance.

Recommended reading: 11 Ways to Green Your Air Conditioning

Copyright © Karen Kingston, 2009

Comments

Tanya

0

 

 

Reading your article on air conditioner alley reminded me of life in Darwin. We have a very similar climate to both Bali and Singapore. I have found through personal experience, and also through observing my clients (I am a massage therapist), that our highly air conditioned society does lead to a compromised immune system in most people. I also see a huge increase in wry neck and frozen shoulder as soon as the build up, then wet season hits.

PS I have your original copy of Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui - I love it and usually refer to it around this time of year - it has been a wonderful source of inspiration, thank you - will be wearing red tomorrow to help with the second half of my clearing which I started today! Thanks, Tanya in Darwin

Saturday 26 December 2009, 08:39

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