Shopping this summer? Better wear light clothing.

[Berry Cool]

Just got off the phone a short while ago with a sister who works in retail.

The employees of her store have been warned to wear shorts to work during the summer. Her store's plans for saving money in these tough economic times include not using the air conditioning.

So, in essence, people are going to come into the store to shop, then leave when they realize they cannot do so in the comfortable coolness they have become accustomed to expect in stores. Without buying anything, of course.

Which will make profits drop even further. Which will make air conditioning even less affordable...not to mention heat in the winter.

Smart thinking, Corporate. Real smart. Way to chase away anyone who actually has money to spend in your store. This is why you guys with the MBAs make so much more money than my sister with the high school diploma who works the floor.

I don't know what to say to her. Except I wish I could wave a magic wand and get her a new job tomorrow. Or just win the lottery or something.

[tridim]

1. Stores are almost always too cold by about 10 degrees IMO

Turning it down is a good idea all around.

[redqueen]

4. Same thing I was thinking.

Also, people in general should get more acclimated to higher temps. There are several upsides to this.

[Deja Q]

5. And more people who are prone to heatstroke will die, hot damn!!

Plenty of upsides, yes indeedie...

Get ready for the inevitable lawsuits too. :evilgrin:

[redqueen]

7. A heatstroke at 78? 80 even?

Yeah. OK.

[Dogmudgeon]

15. I actually had heatstroke once

I got it from two hours in a car with no AC, stuck in a massive traffic jam on I-95 during the worst heat wave in about a decade.

Outside temperature: about 102°F.

No clouds. No breeze. No escape. (Cue the violin-stab music from Psycho.)

A slightly-warm Wal-Mart? No sweat! (Literally.)

--d!

[tridim]

18. Yea, I got it once at an all-day outdoor concert

100 degrees+, high humidity, no wind or clouds. I sweated out water faster than I could drink it. Gawd that day sucked.

[pansypoo53219]

30. try 2 days of that at an art fair

and not selling a god dammed thing.

[alfredo]

45. Or walking ten miles a day while carrying a mail satchel.

[Bandit]

50. Try three tours in Iraq

One Brigade a Month.."Beginning on Day One"

[anigbrowl]

60. Most unlikely

As pointed out, most stores are over-cooled. Turning the AC down a bit is not going to cause anyone to melt into a puddle.

[Mind_your_head]

9. I agree eom

[Lorien]

54. And restaurants, and movie theaters..

I live in Florida where it's usually 90 degrees outside and 58 degrees inside. I have to take a jacket with me pretty much everywhere.

[mantis49]

62. I agree, too.

I'm so tired of going into a store dressed for the weather outside and having my feet and hands turn blue before I can get out of there. Needless to say, I'm not sticking around to spend any extra money!

[AlCzervik]

2. it would be great if they did that at the movies, i swear the movie starts and the

ac goes on full blast, even in the summer i bring a jacket to the movies with me.

[Mariana]

22. I went to a movie yesterday

and noticed it was rather warm in the theater though the whole thing.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. Me too. I hate it!

And restaurants. I know the staff, who are running around, are warmer than the patrons. But eating while shivering is a bad experience. I'd much rather go somewhere where I can be comfie in a t-shirt then somewhere I have to wear a jacket or sweater in the summer.

[Shell Beau]

39. Oh yeah! Always a jacket at the movies!

[Quantess]

46. Some people enjoy blasting the AC until it's as cold as winter.

If it were gray and cold outdoors, those same people would want it toasty warm indoors.
But if it's hot outside, they aren't happy until it's sweater time indoors.

[Deja Q]

3. At least grocers' freezer sections won't be affected.

Not using A/C does save on costs... and I try to use mine only sparingly.

As I also upgrade to the latest green technologies (Macs rule, BTW!!) my net electricity usage should go down a bit too this summer...

[conscious evolution]

56. I remember

when President Carter asked everyone to raise their thermostats to 78 degrees to save energy.
In grocery stores it had the opposite effect by forcing refridgeration cases to run longer and use more energy.

[abluelady]

6. People Will Still Shop

They will just take home to try on and return often.

[LisaM]

8. Turning down the AC might also force architects to start designing to use cross breezes

and trees as a way to keep cool. And bring back ceiling fans.

I read an article about green rooftops, also. It seems that you can lower the rooftop temperature of a building by over 100 degrees by making it green.

The airtight boxes we exist in 1) aren't good for us; and 2) make people dependent on HVAC.

[imdjh]

12. My house is weird. I can go all day without AC, but then I need it in the evening.

[csziggy]

20. The heated attic space is probably radiating heat down into the rest of the house

and in the evening as the temperatures drop outside, the humidity level goes up, making it feel warmer. Check to make sure that the attic space is properly vented and see if you can increase the insulation layer. You may be able to get tax credits to help with those! And see about a way to lower the humidity or keep the air moving in the evenings which will help your comfort level.

My house is strange, too - the temperature tends to stay lower than the setting I have the thermostat at. But I figured it out - to lower the humidity, it will run the AC until it is as much as three degrees lower than the setting. So when we have coolish temperatures, but high humidity like now with this damn low system, it is running the AC more often.

I finally figured out how to set the humidity a little higher but when the outside temperature is 76 and 95% humidity, my system will lower the inside temperature to 75 in order to try to drop the inside humidity to 70%. I've tried raising the thermostat to 80 but then upstairs gets uncomfortably warm at that setting.

[imdjh]

23. I have one trick that saves money

I don't keep the place cold to start with, but instead of having the 25,000 BTU wall unit removed and bricked up like most people do when changing over to central, I kept it and used it occasionally. When it finally crapped out, I replaced it with a new more efficient model. I use no AC when sleeping, a fan takes care of that. When I get up, I use the central system to lower the temp one degree form whatever it is when I wake up. I turn it off when I leave the house. When I come home, I turn it on for one degree. After 9PM if I need some more AC, I'll run the wall unit for an hour. All told, this system keeps my bill considerably lower than family members with similar sized homes. I also like the security of having a duel system so that if the central goes on the fritz, I have the option of not replacing it before I can afford to.

[csziggy]

36. You must not live in Florida - the humidity at night is horrid

And pretty soon we'll be lucky to have night time temps below the upper 80s with that high humidity. Last year when Fay came through and knocked out our power for five days, I could handle the days because when it warmed up the humidity dropped but the temperatures did not go down that much at night and the humidity was near 100%. Trying to sleep in that was like trying to sleep in a water logged sleeping bag.

[imdjh]

37. Near St Pete Beach

I'm not saying that I never use the AC at night, but I have a small wall unit in my bedroom that allows me to cool just that room when I need it. If the house is dry at bedtime, it's not going to pick up much humidity before morning. In the morning, I run the central for a little while. All told, I keep it between 78º - 82º depending upon humidity and rain.

The "downside" of all this, is that through thrift I had my bill at a manageable level, but a minimum comfort level. So when Progress Energy spiked the rates, I had nothing left to give when it came to comfort.

Yeah, when the power went out for a week during a hurricane near-miss, it was unpleasant. I could have managed better if I had a battery back up that would have let me run a fan. We spent a lot of time hanging out in places that have AC and allow dogs.

[csziggy]

38. Oh, nearer the coast than we are.

We're in the red hills near the Georgia border. Really nice in the spring and fall, but oppressive in the summer and cold in the winter (for Florida). Our farm, in particular, is a cold location. While areas around Tallahassee can grow bananas and citrus, we get enough cold hours to get a few apples every year.

We situated our house at the top of our ridge to catch the breezes and that works pretty good. But it also means that when the winter winds blow, we get a stiff wind chill factor.

Florida/Progress Power is not up here. Most of the rural area around Tallahassee is handled by Talquin Electric Cooperative so the rates are as low as possible. But it is a bitch to cut usage down as much as possible and to still get socked by the increase in rates!

AS soon as we catch up from building this house, I want to look into a solar system with battery back up. But we just do not have the spare money and the technology was not developed enough to dump the tens of thousands of dollars two years ago to add the panels into the construction of the house.

[imdjh]

42. I have an emergency system as well. I have the keys to a couple of snowbird condos. :) nt

[csziggy]

43. Now that is worth gold!

When Fay hit, we spent as much time as possible at the Obama HQ. But after the third or fourth day of rain, the building flooded. The last night we just couldn't handle it - the rain had stopped and it got hot enough to start evaporating the 25 inches of rain that had fallen. So we checked into a motel for that night. Heaven.

[cwydro]

48. I live in the Keys

and every summer I try to see how long I can go with just fans.

So far, so good.

[Lorien]

57. Ugh. Lost power for over two weeks after Charley. Florida in August with no

air, no fan, and no screens in the windows= no fun at all!

[bushmeister0]

61. Lucky for me I was ony without power for a week after Andrew.

The humidity was unbelievable. To say nothing about the pitch black at night.

I was in N. Miami beach. My cousin in South Miami did without for a month.

This is probably why John Gorrie, the inventor of air conditioning, is one of the two men honored from Florida in the National Statuary Hall. The other one is a Confederate General, of course.

[Stinky The Clown]

51. Do you think architects are specifically **not**doing that?

[imdjh]

10. Big stores are typically warmer than you think coming in from the outside.

They have been saving money on AC for a long time. Coming in from outside, it often seems like they are icebergs, when in reality the AC is rarely set below 75º and is often on a straight differential. The most uncomfortable time to shop in Walmart around here is shortly after sunset, because the outside temp has dropped down ten degrees and the inside temp has not adjusted yet.

At least those stores are paying their own bills. What pisses me off, is when I go to city hall and it really is freezing in there, like an hour after you have entered the building you are still cold. This is because they insist on making these people wear "professional" clothing. Wearing a suit of any weight in Florida in springsummerfall is just stupid. Citizens complain about the practice at just about very meeting of the Pinellas council, but they keep on wearing suits. I have a better idea, where a Madras shirt like the Israelis do in the Knesset. If you still feel the need to let th world know you are a professional, then wear a badge with your degree on it.

Oh, and the court house is freezing too.

[tridim]

14. Wow I never thought about suits that way. Makes complete sense.

Ban the business suit!

I can't stand them.

[imdjh]

17. I have been at war with the business suit since I was 25

And I really don't care what climate you live in. Mens' suits suck the life out of a person.

[havocmom]

27. Living in Tucson for years made me understand desert cultures that wear white caftan garb

Much smarter than suits for men and women (and women usually have to wrap half their bodies in pantyhose. Add the various elastic fabrics of upper body undergarments and it's a wonder women don't die at work on a regular basis.

[imdjh]

34. I wear caftans- I'm thinking about going full time

I'm about to make myself some of the gauzy pajamas- I like the really baggy pant kind. I can't think of the name off the top of my head, and can't find a picture of the right ones to use as a guideline.

[juno jones]

44. Check out the Folkwear Patterns

http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/static/folkwear-patterns.htm

I used to sew baggy pants and caftans for the co-op crowd. Folkwear Patterns is a good place to start, there are a couple more brands out now too, not to mention the mainstream patterns getting in on the act. Also there are a lot of websites out there for folk and historical costuming that might have instructions for what you need.

Have fun sewing! :)

PS that was just a quick link, do some digging around there are more Folkwear Patterns than just the ones availible on that site.

[patrice]

52. Thanks!! for the link!! Back when I used to go into fabric stores, I always kept an eye out for that

line of patterns.

You remind me that I SHOULD dig some of them out of wherever I stored them and make something. That would be very satisfying right now!

[patrice]

53. P.S. It doesn't appear that there actually ARE any patterns available on that site.

[juno jones]

63. Sorry, I just pulled it out of my links.

Gods know how old it is.

Just Google it, there are some good sites out there.

[patrice]

11. Stores of all types are WAY too cold for me.

Probably doesn't matter much, since I'm all shopped-out anyway, can't stand the hassle, don't like spending the money, don't care about the stuff anymore.

[redqueen]

13. Another potential upside - "hobby shopping" will slow down.

We as a society really do buy way way way too much unnecessary crap. The idea of shopping as a hobby is just gross IMO.

[Mike 03]

16. Fascinating. Posts like this one are amazing, and they provide insight into the minds of how the

retailers are attempting to cope with difficult economic times.

I'd love to know the name of the retailer, or a hint as to whether it is a boutique (like J. Crew or Hugo Boss) or a major like Target, etc...

[rebecca_herman]

19. do they really think that will help?

It would make me not shop so no $$ for them from me, I'd just shop online instead if many stores start doing that. I have a very poor heat tolerance. It makes me feel dizzy/nauseous/faint to be in really warm temperatures in the summer. I'd just stay home in my nice AC which I can control.

[InvisibleTouch]

21. I only wish it were so!

In the summer I can barely stand to go into any store because of the cold temperatures. I don't tolerate them well at all. Never use the AC at home. I somehow doubt I'm really going to be able to look forward to a comfortable shopping experience this summer, though. Most people's temperature preferences are so far outside of my comfort zone that I think this little experiment (commendable experiment, also from a purely green POV!) isn't going to last long.

[kestrel91316]

24. Here in CA the most important thing to do is SHUT THE FRICKING DOORS

when you have the AC on. It seems to be de rigeur to have AC on full blast and doors standing wide open (for the fresh air, supposedly) even in 110F+ heat. I kid you not.

[patrice]

31. Yeah, "Fuck reality! Just fuck it! All you have to do is Believe strong enough and what you believe

will become real!"

[slampoet]

40. Some Idiot told retailer it would increase sales and now they believe it. IDIOTS.

I would NEVER go into a retailer who was wasting ANYTHING right in front of me.

Why?

Because obviously this retailer has some competition that has lower prices because they DON'T WASTE THINGS in order to pass on the expenses to me.

[Gormy Cuss]

58. It's weird to walk by those stores and feel the cool breeze.

It's weirder still that these stores continue the practice even when PG & E is harping at residential customers to raise the thermostats to 80 degrees to conserve.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. I'd be extremely happy if many of them would simply raise the temp

I usually carry a sweater with me in the summer - everywhere is WAY too air conditioned. Movie theaters are the worst offenders.

I've been saying to the stores I frequent for years that they ought to jack the temp up a good bit.

It doesn't need to be 85 degrees inside, but something far north of 65 would be terrific!

[havocmom]

28. Have carried folding paper fans to shop or meetings for years now.

Havocdad bought me a couple dozen a few years ago. I always have one in my bad. Amazing how much envy I see when I whip one out in a store or meeting room.

[Lars39]

41. I've got one of those little battery operated personal fans.

I don't do heat well anymore at all.

[pansypoo53219]

29. GOOD!

i hate stores being cooled to fucking freezer weather. if 72 in nice in winter. its nice in summer. NOT 60's!

[Obamanaut]

32. Ah, the good old days when the only "conditioned air" was in the

moving picture houses, and it was advertised as such on the marquee.

Most stores were not, and precious few houses, and yet we survived.

And then, the dinosaurs came.

[slampoet]

33. Maybe the retailer shouldn't LEAVE THE DOORS OPEN WHEN THE AC IS ON.

You think that i am fooling but I first saw it in Austin and then in Flagstaff, SF, Seattle, and Portland.

Some how store owners are telling their employees that the AC attracts customers.

I even recall Retailers leaving doors open and AC flowing out during the rolling blackouts in Seattle in 2001.




And while you retailer fools are at it TURN OFF THE OUTSIDE MUZAK. No one wants to hear your shitty muzak and certainly nobody wants to hear it in the parking lot of on ta supposedly public street where you are polluting the air.

[Raine]

35. I can't stand when it's too hot and stuffy

I've been in places like that and I leave real fast.

[My Good Babushka]

47. I agree with many responders

stores are too cold for me. Maybe I'll shop longer if it's a bit warmer.

[a kennedy]

49. I think it's to d*mn cold in those malls anyway,

why not just dial it down a tad??? STUPID!!! Like the time they turned off our hot water at work to save on energy......I think it was during the 70's.....and when everyone started getting sick they turned it back on. Doh, washing hands in hot water kills germs...... :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Ilsa]

55. I noticed it at our local fabric store already. It's too hot to shop for more

than a few minutes, especially if you are a middle-aged woman having periodic hot flashes. The AC is centrally controlled. The staff working there can't do anything about it.

[Stinky The Clown]

59. I guess this might be an improvement. Now my nipples won't be so obvious.

[MonteLukast]

64. Air conditioning SHOULD be turned down a little...

... not turned up to the point where you have to wear jackets indoors.

Years ago when I lived in Kansas, I was astounded at going to a restaurant in summer and needing to put on a coat. Indoors! This was after I brought, of course, no additional covering, being 90-100 degrees outside.

I was always saying to myself, "Would it kill them to NOT turn the indoors into an icebox?"

The objective of climate control is to make things comfortable. Not "icebox". Comfortable. Comfort means a temperature in the low-mid 70s. Most air conditioning-happy businesses must keep it about 10 degrees below that.

Can't do anything about the folks who LIKE it to be an icebox inside, though.