Is this idiot insane or just mentally disturbed. If he wants to live somewhere without air conditioning, move to Europe.

As far as banning A.C. - Mr. Cox's idea didn't stink, it STANK. What about people w/asthma and other persons who need the A.C? And as far as leaving store doors open w/a.c. on - does the proposed legislation allow for business who need have the doors open to air out their business (ex. when a restaurant burns food). P.S. on another note; WHY AREN'T BICYLISTS ESPECIALLY MESSENGERS NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE LICENSE PLATES? If they cause an accident and get away, how can they be traced? And I constantly read about complants from bicyclists about how they are mistreated by car drivers - but maybe if more bicylists obeyed the traffic laws....it would help allieviate the problem.....

Reading > Above Posters

Nicko Margolies is right and Orvetti misses the point entirely. It's not about people's "right" to waste (which is nonetheless deplorable), it's about the grid and the environment. Orvetti apparently doesn't know that most electricity in the DC Metro area is generated by burning coal -- a very dirty fuel. Furthermore, burning anything not only contributes to air pollution (Ever notice those orange and red air alerts we get?), it also contributes to global climate change. Finally, if we can lessen out consumption of electricity just a little, we can protect the grid from failure (brownouts or blackouts) and avoid the need to build yet more coal-fired electricity generating plants. So, while wastefulness is an issue, it is far more critical than that.

the business's who leave their doors open and the ac on, should be fined. they are wasting a finite commodity. our military members are sacrificing their lives to keep the oil flowing. mountaintops are being blown to smithereens and streams and groudwater polluted to extract coal. the gulf of mexico and it's wildlife and marine animals are suffering brutal deaths from the oil spill. patrons of these stores should complain to the managers and the city should be leveling fines.

Although this practice among these businesses are absolutely wasteful, I can't say I don't appreciate it. The summers here in DC are hot, sticky, and humid. A sudden blast from an open store is a guilty treat while walking in thick air under a blazing sun. The better it feels, the more tempted people may be to go inside. The owners know this, and it may be a contributing factor to this practice.

JJ is right. If you don't remember life without air conditioning, try Europe. Hotel rooms in Europe are stifling, even when it is cool outside.

I LOATHE air conditioning. But retail stores are only a small part of the problem. I can't tell you how many 90 degree plus days I've had to pack a sweater because my office building insists on blowing cold air beyond the point of cooling off. A coworker actually uses a space heater during the summer.

There should be incentives for EVERYONE to take responsibility. Use turnstile doors when available, don't use the handicapped entrance unless you physically need it (auto open also delays when the door closes), keep the air to a moderate setting (if any) and dress appropriately for the weather.

Most of today's building are possible because of elevators and air conditioning. You have all of that glass, huge windows in DC office building, and at least 13 sets of stairs to climb without an elevator. His idea is impractical for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one is that it would require the revamping of the infrastructure.

MMR, I feel for you, I have been in that situation. It is generally a repair issue, not a thermostat problem. The air conditioning is supposed to be able to monitor when one room is colder than the others and adjust the ventilation. It often fails, and people don't understand what is going on and so don't fix it. They just know the system is set for a certain temperature, they don't know it is supposed to monitor and adjust for each space.

Plus, if you are right under or near a vent, it will be colder.

I sit right under a vent at work and I love it. Nice and cool in the summer and nice and warm in the winter. To the woman who was in the store and got so cold that she hung all of her clothes back on the rack and left, claiming she was really going to drop some money that day, if you are affected by air conditioning in stores, why don't you make your own clothes or order then from the internet while sitting in your house in the middle of the summer with no air conditioning?