February 26, 2007
That Open Window With the AC On Might Be Illegal
City Councilwoman Gale Brewer is introducing an intriguing bill: Business owners would be fined if they keep their windows or doors open while the air-conditioning is on. The NY Sun reports that the bill would "make it illegal for windows to be open while an air conditioner is operating and would require all doors to be closed except to allow people to enter or exit a building." The fine would be $200 per open window or door!
Brewer says many of her constituents wonder why businesses with the AC running leave their doors are open. Even though she knows that businesses leave their doors open to attract customers (because opening a door is a big obstacle), Brewer calls the practice "an environmental issue." Partnership for New York City president Kathryn Wylde thinks the bill's aim is true, but that it'll add too much bureaucracy.
The problem is that it's unclear how the law would actually be enforced. Maybe New Yorkers will have to be deputized to report open windows and doors, just like they should report dog owners who don't scoop dog poop.
Do you think this bill should be passed? Or should the city think of other ways to limit electricity consumption. And this photograph is from Michele Howley's Cool Props project. Oh, Goya, yes!
|
This is a great idea. I only wish it had been done sooner. NY'ers and Americans in general should be ashamed of how wasteful they are. I know I am. Are we really that sloth-y of a people that we cannot open a door ourselves or shop in a store that is not -30F in the summer. Come on, people.
Stores leave their doors open with the AC blasting to attract sweaty, overheated pedestrians, not because opening doors is an obstacle. If that was the case, stores would leave doors open during the winter, too, with the heat on full blast.
The air conditioner supported on cans is already a violation of the Building Code, which states:
DO NOT USE bricks, telephone books, gypsum board or cans for leveling under the A/C unit.
Go to the nyc dot gov site and search for ac_tips.pdf
Bob the Builder
Great picture -- if they can't enforce the current law that says you can't use tins cans to hold up your a/c unit, how are they going to enforce the open door law?
Maybe if energy prices weren't so damn cheap in this country we wouldn't need to ponder such ridiculous regulation.
I remember last summer being incensed by a parking garage that was blasting the AC onto a 20-30 meter area on 59th st between park and madison during that brutal heat wave in July. It seriously felt like getting doused with ice water when I rode my bike by it. I called 311 to complain but there wasn't anything they could do.
We, as a nation, have way too much free time to complain about way too many ridiculous things.
"Maybe if energy prices weren't so damn cheap."
Jesus F.
[1]- "This is a great idea. I only wish it had been done sooner. NY'ers and Americans in general should be ashamed of how wasteful they are. I know I am. "
Well, if you know you are, why don't you do something about it yourself?! It makes me sick that people can be so spineless and hypocritical as to say "I know I'm irresponsible and careless, so I want the government to pass a law forcing me to be responsible and mindful." If KNOWING that you are wasteful and irresponsible isn't enough to make you want to change your wasteful habits, can you honestly say that some unenforceable law in a forgotten book will make you change?? Give me a break!
Personally I wished they go after the A/C owners that allow pigeons to roost under there.
NYers are total hypocrits. The same people that were probably crying tears of joy when Al Gore and Melissa Etheridge collected their Oscars are often the same people that can't be bothered to recyle and can't even use the revolving door even when there is a sign blocking the regular door and that says in huge letters "use revolving door".
Somebody give the City Council something better to do. They're going nit-picky nuts.
Hey, "nuts": I guess you've never had to watch your refrigerator spoil while in another part of town, Old Navy has eight doors wide open pouring a/c onto the street. I also guess you've never heard of global warming, and don't realize that most of our electricity comes from fucking COAL.
i think they should pass the law. sadly, i don't think it will get thorough enforcement (it's a big city) and will slide, like the poop law and the smoking ban. but if it keeps the shopping districts in check, it's something worthwhile.