Hong Kong: Stop the zealous air conditioning

http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/christopher-dewolf-stop-zealous-air-conditioning-296541

I sweat a lot in summer. I do suffer this heat. However I can't help but agree with these points. It's hot. Deal with it. The author's point about not allowing short sleeves and no ties in summer is very well taken. In Singapore, ladies wear spaghetti tops and microskirts because of the climate. It would be insane not to. Here in summer, it's full suit with jacket!


I would also add:

- Mandatory double or triple glazing for any new construction and renovation would decrease air conditioning use, decrease electrical bills dramatically and decrease total electricity use. This would also help mitigate the "urban island" effect. If you cool the air inside, you heat the air outside.

- Mandatory insulation in walls. Not only would this decrease heat loss, it would also decrease the noise from neighbors everyone complains about in newer buildings.

- Mandatory minimum temperatures for office and commercial buildings. I'm all for some cool when I go inside, but often I'm freezing. Yes, the temperature can be hard to modulate, but that just means thermostats need to improve. The technology does exist.

- Tax breaks for new buildings that use innovative solutions like double walls to decrease heat loss.

- A ban on shops blasting the A/C when they are open to the street. The waste is appalling!



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