A Look Back at the American Northeastern Summer Before Air Conditioning
It’s hard to imagine life without air conditioning, but until the early 20th century, air conditioners weren’t a part of American life. In the humid Northeast, people had to do what they could to survive the summer without air conditioning, and severe heat waves were sometimes paralyzing. Here’s why you should thank your lucky stars you have air conditioning in the Northeast.
Stuck on the Porch
Dealing with heat and humidity was a way of life in the Northeast before air conditioning, so people took refuge in well-shaded and well-ventilated places. The porch was the ideal location to beat the heat because conditions inside a home could actually be more unpleasant than those outdoors. The porch allowed for fresh air and passing breezes to pass over residents sitting under the shade.
Shade and Ventilation
Planting shade trades strategically and placing windows in a manner that encouraged cross-ventilation also helped Northeasterners deal with summer heat. Shading the area around a home also cooled the surrounding air before it entered the home. However, the high humidity levels found frequently in Northeastern states still made the heat unbearable by today’s standards.
Electric Fans and New Technologies
The introduction of electric fans brought some relief for dealing with sweltering summer temps on the east coast, but not everyone could afford such a new-fangled luxury at home. Still, town halls, banks, courthouses, and other public and private meeting spaces started to add ceiling fans to their buildings. Desk fans also started popping up in offices because they gave desk-bound workers some personal ventilation.
South Shore Fuel has been working in the Northeast for over 100 years, helping distribute the resources that made bringing innovations like air conditioning into American homes possible. Today, we’ve developed into a company that provides Massachusetts customers with fuel for heating and air conditioner repair services for air conditioning. Take advantage of our experience and call us today at (855) 529-9635.
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