This newspaper's finding that the government's air conditioning guidelines seem to be getting followed is good news indeed. Thermostats set at temperatures that are too high or low cause environmental damage through burning fuel to produce the wasted electricity. Four in five public places we studied met the suggested setting of 25.5 degrees Celsius.
That so many companies and government offices are complying does not necessarily signal a concern for the environment, of course; keeping power bills as low as possible may be behind the trend. While some shopping malls and buildings remain too cold for comfort, it is nevertheless apparent that considerable effort is being made and that those not paying heed are encouraged to do so.
This does not mean a rigid conforming to the figure, either. Optimal human comfort, as determined by the internationally recognised standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, depends on temperature, humidity and wind speed. A figure of 25.5 may be fine for an office when it is 33 degrees outside and the humidity is 90 per cent, but this does not necessarily apply with moving vehicles. It certainly should not be the rule in winter, when lower temperatures and humidity mean that thermostats should be likewise lowered.
Air conditioners need to be installed and monitored by experienced engineers. Only through outside and inside temperatures being properly read and thermostats then automatically adjusted can the best performance of the system be achieved. Staff have to be educated to not tamper with optimally configured systems.
Hong Kong has come a long way from the days when an instant chill descended each time we walked into an office or shop or got on public transport. Authorities can take pride in getting the message for change across so effectively. But some people with the ability to follow suit are not yet listening; they need to comply. Getting indoor temperatures right is in all our interests.
