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Abstract
This paper examines the viability of maintaining a heritage of low carbon comfort as an alternative to the energy intensive comfort regime of mechanical air conditioning. In many parts of the world, the carbon footprint of buildings is increasing significantly due to the widespread adoption of air conditioning. Current trends around indoor comfort are unsustainable, and alternative, less energy intensive comfort regimes need to be maintained or cultivated. To date, studies on this topic in heritage and preservation studies have focused on the architectural designs of ‘passive cooling’. This paper seeks to expand this conceptualisation of ‘cool living heritage’ to incorporate other forms of material culture and comfort practice.
Funding
This work was supported by the Australian Research Council [grant number DP120102448]; Qatar National Research Fund [grant number NPRP 7-1495-6-042].
Notes
1. Source: Household Consumption Survey (Citation2012, 175–182).
2. See http://cetdem.org.my.
3. See IEA (Citation2014).
4. Source: US Energy Information Administration (Citation2014).
5. See for example the 1939 New York World’s Fair, which promoted futuristic clothing and interiors, imaginings that revolved around air conditioning (see Van Dyk Citation2007).
6. Recounting such shifts Roy Hamilton has suggested ‘When I first went to Indonesia in 1971, the modern Western men’s business suit and tie were unknown. These first began appearing on television anchor men and then, increasingly, with Western business interests in Jakarta. They are now the high status form of dress for men, yet totally inappropriate for the climate and essentially require air conditioning’ (personal communication, July, 2014).
7. J Hamilton, personal communication, July, 2014.
8. See for Example Big Ass Fans – http://www.bigassfans.com/au/summer-cooling.