THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, July 22, 2010
41
ter and a thermometer. When the temperature
by Dr. Debi Warner Contributing Writer
Dear Dr. Debi, My partner is so differ-
ent – we like different tem- peratures when sleeping, when watching TV, and anywhere. I like the fan and my partner doesn’t like the breeze or noise. I feel I could suffocate with- out it. It is much worse in the summer. What can we do?
Signed, Hot & Cold
Dear Dual Climates, Somehow there is per- sonal compatibility be- tween you, or you wouldn’t be together, but having far different preferences in temperature can really impact comfort for both. There are subjective and measured perceptions of heat that impact our comfort and ease of living in relation to the changes in humidity and temper- ature that accompany seasonal variations. Let’s take a look at what we are experiencing and see what can be done in the home to even it out again. First, let us understand
that heat is not just tem- perature; we also perceive humidity as an important part of warmth. A formula called a Heat Index pro- vides a number we may relate to. If you had equip- ment in your home such as a hygrothermograph, you could know the num- bers all the time, and ad- just the environment to be more even again. Or, you could use a humidity me-
goes up, if the amount of water in the air remains the same, you can of- ten tolerate rising heat pretty well. Subjectively it feels almost the same. But when the humidity, or water dissolved in the air, also goes up, it can be increasingly uncom- fortable. Our perspiration is less effective in cooling our body; because the evaporation of sweat is slower in saturated air and so we remain hotter longer. Different people sweat differently, so that can have an impact. The perception of breath-
ing ease is also different, as moist air feels different and heavier as we pull it in. In the winter, moist air can be a relief in contrast to the dry thin air of that season, so moisture is welcome. But in the sum- mer, if we are already hot and cannot cool ourselves naturally, when we then feel heavy air as we breath in, we can almost go into a panic. This explains why some people become irri- table and desperate to get
air when they are facing those conditions. Another person who is not facing sweat failure may not be sympathetic to those feel- ings. Thus a conflict in perceptions arises. The dry one may think
the other is jumping to extremes, the sweating one is panicked that they are suffocating and no one will help them. It is prob- ably a good idea for the calm one to consider the other’s experiences and point of view of despera- tion. Yes, a breeze may help
the one with breathing and sweating difficulty. Yet we are then back to the noisy blowing fan con- flict. Maybe you can do that for a short time, and then also adjust the atmo- sphere to provide a bet- ter Heat Index, one more moderate for common comfort. Changing the tempera-
ture can often be done with an air condition- er, which also removes humidity. You get both portions of the index im- proved. Nice to do. But do you have a unit that will
cover the area you need to live in, or will you be con- fined to one little room? Maybe you plan for whole house air conditioning? A heat pump unit also re- verses to be a whole house cooling system, which is pretty cool. Other possibilities are
to use a dehumidifier so that part of the equation improves, which provides some nice relief. If you
have a forced air furnace, you can also do a sweet trick – place a fan in the basement at the intake and blow cool cellar air through the house system in the heat of the day. This can work beautifully in moderate climates if you don’t want to invest in a whole house cooling system. Just make sure that the basement air
See DR. DEBI on 44 Dr. Debi Warner is the Founder of Renovation Psychology® and
author of Putting the Home Team to Work, available now online. Dr. Debi provides advice for greater domestic harmony to folks who are renovating their home – for True Home Improvement. This column is offered for enjoyment and enhancement and is not intended to replace your personal medical care. Photo by Bob Jenks, St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dr. Debi has a con- sultation practice, visiting home sites all over New England from her studio in Littleton, NH at the Tannery Marketplace. © 2009 Renovation Psychology® Questions are welcome.
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