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Incorrect Business Assumptions and Misappropriation of Cooling Resources, or Why Do We Bring Sweaters to Movie Theaters in the Summer?

Panel: Human and Social Dimensions of Energy Use: Trends and their Implications

Author:
Michael Mendelsohn, Western Resource Advocates

Abstract

The invention and dispersion of air conditioning has allowed society to greatly increase comfort levels in our residences, businesses, and various modes of transport. However, parts of modern American society have also developed a culture of over-cooling, wasting energy and financial resources, and actually, reducing our comfort level. Of particular concern are the country's retail businesses: our restaurants, movie theaters, malls and conference centers that regularly over-use space cooling resources.

Thermal comfort among customers of retail establishments appears to be very low as nearly all (88%) individuals responding to a survey perceive at least some retail establishments as over-cooled, and most (76%) bring extra layers of clothing into retail establishments to maintain thermal comfort. Perhaps, most tellingly, exactly half of all survey participants described half or more of all retail establishments to be over-cooled.

Behavioral modification among business managers in their use of cooling resources can lead to significant energy reductions. A 3º F setback among all commercial enterprises could reduce commercial space cooling loads by .0918 Quads. That value is equivalent to 26,903 GWh, or the energy output of more than 12 mid-sized (500 MW) gas-fired generating plants operating at 50% capacity factor.

Paper

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