According to scientists, yawning is not just a sign of boredom or tiredness it’s our body’s version of having our very own LG Air Conditioning unit.
Research suggests that when our heads begins to heat up, yawning allows cool air to bring our brain back down to a good temperature. Our brain works like a computer – best when it’s cool! Putting too much strain on it can cause overheating which decreases its skill to process information.
It was revealed in a study in Arizona with a sample of 160 volunteers that when their body temperature was higher than the air that was around them in the winter, they yawned almost twice as much.
Princeton University who conducted the study, said that there would be less benefit from yawning in summer because the air is warmer than their bodies.
Our brain temperature depends on the amount of processing that the brain has to do, the rate at which the blood goes to the brain and also the temperature of the blood.
Dr Andrew Gallup led Princeton University’s research, explained that an overheated brain encourages signs of drowsiness, which could suggest why we also yawn when we are tired.
Gallup said “When you are warmer you are more likely to feel tired. At night when you are about to sleep your body temperature is at its highest point of the day.”
The study involved researchers analysing how frequently a group of 80 people yawned in response to images of other people yawning during the winter, and then did the same exercise with another group of volunteers in the summer.
The study showed that 45% of people responded to the pictures by yawning themselves in winter, when outdoor temperatures averaged 21 degrees. However, in the summer, fewer than a quarter yawned when conditions were much hotter.
Gallup explained that after participants had spent five minutes outside and their bodies had a chance to sense the difference of temperature, the effect was especially strong.
He also added that in a previous research in rats, showed that yawning was activated by quick increases in brain heat and was followed by an unexpected fall in temperature.
We may not have had much of a summer in Britain this year but when we have had hot weather, everyone is cheery and happier. However, new research by Kia Motors shows that it somehow affects our driving skills.
The research shows that during the summer, over a third have had an accident whilst nearly 1 in 10 speed when the heat rises. With this report, it could be safer that we don’t get much hot weather in Britain!
The most common reason why motorists drive badly when the sun is shining is because they get too flustered and hot. 14% of drivers own up to driving worse in the heat and have had their anger levels rise as the heat does, as well as get a short temper when more cars are on the road.
Nearly half of UK motorists get distracted by other bad drivers on the roads during the summer months, according to the report. Another distraction for 1 in 5 people is singing along to music!
Communications director at Kia Motors UK, Steve Kitson, says, “Whilst the summer sun is guaranteed to life the mood of the natin it is clear that Brit’s can’t take the heat.”
Kitson explains that “Although hot weather in the UK is often rare, it has the effect of getting drivers flustered as there are more distractions on the road. Kia urges all drivers to show care and diligence at all times no matter what the weather or in fact whatever day of the week.”
24% of motorists confess to being distracted if they see an attractive person walking along, so it’s not just the excitement of speeding in the sunshine that makes people drive badly.
According to the report, 85% of the nation has experienced one or more accidents on the road in their lifetime and the average UK driver is distracted 1.84 each day.
The average bill is £635 to repair a car after damage caused in an accident and there’s also an increase of the driver’s next motor insurance quote premiums to think about, so getting behind the wheel and getting hot and bothered is the cost of an impact.
Make sure that you remember to turn up your cheap air con units or wind down the windows to keep cool, to avoid getting angry in the driving seat!
We may have had one of the nicest springs in 2011, but in Britain we also had one of our worst-ever summers. Summer was officially declared over yesterday as the UK was battered by gale-force winds and torrential rain. Most people saw themselves going to bed earlier than usual as it became darker quicker.
Forecasters predicted unsettled weather throughout the week and it won’t get much better throughout September, so there’s no need to have your air conditioning units switched on.
According to the Met Office, it has been the worst summer in Britain since 1993. Dan Williams, Met Office forecaster, said “Northwest Britain is looking unsettled with showers and even gales. For the South East, we’ll see rain but in general it’s going to be drier and more settled,” which sounds like a very uncertain prediction.
There were gusts of wind up to 60mph in some places in Britain. Railways across the country were disrupted by trees falling on the tracks causing cancellations, ferries along the south cost were severely disrupted and some of London’s tube stations were also closed due to flooding.
Southend’s mile long pleasure pier’s supports and decking were also damaged after a giant barge was blown into the structure.
We still have our fingers crossed for some sunshine though!
For those of you who turned in to Stephen Fry’s Channel 4 count down of the 100 greatest gadgets, and watched it until the end, would have discovered Fry’s number 1 greatest gadget ever to be the cigarette lighter. It took 3 hours for the number 1 gadget– I could see why Fry chose it as the greatest gadget, but it was a bit of an anti-climax for someone who doesn’t smoke.
“It’s not the order in which things are invented that makes them the most impressive, it’s the importance they have to humanity. So my number one is this: fire with a flick of the fingers,” Fry explains.
Other gadgets in Fry’s list included the Nintendo Wii, telephone, kettle, karaoke machine, iphone, ipad and ipod, which made some people to believe that the TV show was sponsored by Apple.
We were surprised that air conditioning was not seen on the list of the greatest gadgets, however, the fan came in number 68, which shows people do appreciate keeping cool in the UK! One of the fans that were mentioned was the innovative Dyson bladeless fan.
There are many polls and countdowns on Channel 4, which are usually open to public voting beforehand, however all the gadgets for ‘Stephen Fry’s 100 Greatest Gadgets’ were chosen by Stephen Fry himself, as the title of the show suggests.
Some presenters and comedians also featured in the show, by giving their views and opinions on a few of the gadgets. Al Murray, a comedian said he couldn’t imagine life without a toaster and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said he would struggle to imagine life without scissors.
People who watched the programme may be been unsure what Fry’s definition of a gadget was as among the list was a corkscrew, whistle and a pen.
The weather has dampened over the last week for us Britons in the UK. This week, the Met Office issued a severe weather warning on Monday, predicted heavy rain on Tuesday and warned people of the risk of flooding.
However, the predicted torrential rain did not occur, but there were some thundery and heavy showers. Some areas of the capital city saw between 5mm to 10mm of rain in a few hours, while other areas just experienced some light rain. Even though there was no sunshine, most people felt the muggy, humid weather and stayed by their refrigeration units in London!
Despite the weather, Britain is braced for the Bank Holiday weekend and not holding back. Almost 27 million drivers are set to tackle the roads over the long weekend.
According to esure, travel chaos will lead to the average motorist spending almost 2 hours stuck in traffic jams.
According to figures, Britons are still planning to visit the seaside despite the horrible weather, with Brighton and Blackpool being the top destinations.
There are also a couple of big festivals happening over the weekend including Reading and Leeds, which will add to the congestion. Festival goers are hoping that they will be lucky enough to get the same sunshine as people who went to V festival last weekend.
Head of risk and underwriting at esure, Mike Pickard said “Traffic jams are a given for any Bank Holiday but this year it seems more Brits than ever are planning to hit the roads as uncertainty over booking foreign holidays has seen a rise in popularity of the staycation”
Pickard adds, “We would advise motorists to check weather and traffic reports before setting off and ensure they have completed a thorough vehicle check.
“Planning ahead by choosing a route that avoids holiday hotspots and driving off-peak is a great way to beat the traffic and make the most of your long weekend,” Pickard advises.
One of the hottest crimes this summer is air conditioner theft. This has been happening not only across the USA, but there have been some cases in the UK as well. We’re not talking about the small cheap air conditioning units, we are talking about the ones in large offices or buildings that have huge central air conditioning units. Thieves have been stealing them or dismantling them, as their copper coils can fetch a bit of money. People have been suffering with the heat and damage all over the country.
Examples of thefts across the USA include Illinois State University, where 56 air con units were stolen and a church in Houston that had been a cool refuge, had its nine huge air conditioning units gutted and stolen for its copper. The New York Times said that the damage amounted to $60,000 for what was worth about $400 worth of scrap metal. In Georgia, police stopped a van and discovered 6 air conditioning units inside, and arrested 3 people shortly after.
But there are a few things companies and organisations can do to make their air conditioning units less of a target – summers not over just yet!
Build a fence – A fence with a padlock could be installed around the air conditioning units to deter thieves (remember to leave enough space for maintenance and servicing!)
Build a cage – Air conditioner cages could be anchored to the ground to stop thieves from stealing the cage and the air conditioning units inside.
Get an alarm – A professional could install an alarm on the working parts of the unit so that it makes an alarm if taken apart.
Install lights – Another idea would be to add security lighting to deter thieves as well as alert people who are around the building.
Taking these precautions could not only help protect your air conditioning units from being stolen, but could also deter thieves from damaging your property or stealing anything else from your building.
With August getting us hot under the collar in Britain, some people are turning to their air conditioning and have only just realised that their units doesn’t seem to be working anymore. People who have air con units don’t have to spend a lot of money to have ensure a longer life for their unit. Here are a few of our top tips-
As the key component of your homes air con system relies on the coils within the unit to remain free to cool the incoming air, you should keep in clear of debris by removing grass and weeds, as well as keeping a lookout for any insects.
To do this, switch off the electric power, remove the sheet metal screws and lift off the housing. Remove the debris and use a cloth to clean off the coils, some people use a garden hose but this is at your own risk. If you do choose to use a garden hose, do your best to avoid the electronics as there is a risk of electric shocks. Check for any bent coils and straighten them as well as you can before replacing the housing and tighten all the screws carefully.
Next, check for insects, especially for ants as they can be a dangerous intruder. Ants will take up habitation in your air conditioner as they seek shade and water, which can cost you a lot of money. You could have your ducts sealed which could help keep insects out and also puts a stop to hot air leaks into return ducts, which can overburden your air conditioning unit.
Don’t forget to check your filters and clean them on a regular basis (depending on how much you use them) as well as keeping an eye out for leaks as early as possible.
Following these tips and maintaining your air conditioning unit should help ensure a longer life for them.
August has kicked off to a promising start, even if July was a bit of a letdown with the weather. However, the weatherman still warns us to keep an umbrella in reach.
After swapping our T-shirts for jumpers, not using sunscreen for the past few weeks and even seeing Autumn/Winter 2011 clothes pop up in shop windows, we have finally enjoyed some much needed heat over the weekend and more is on its way.
So far we have had 26c, with the promise of up to 28c (82f) in some areas of Britain in the coming days.
Millions of Britons took advantage of the hot spell and headed to British beaches over the weekend, to paddle in the sea and soak up the sun. Some areas saw their car parks full by Sunday morning and hotels also had “no vacancies” in their windows.
However, we all know what the weather is like in Britain and good things have to come to an end. The hot spell will be short lived and we could see thunderstorms in many areas, along with swarms of flying ants, forecasters have warned.
“In the next few days the conditions are likely to set off thunderstorms just about anywhere in the country. That will herald low temperatures for most parts. People should make the most of the weather while they can”, said Andy Bodenham, Met Office forecaster.
Bournemouth’s seven miles of beaches was full of deck chairs on Sunday.
“It’s glorious today. The beach is really busy and I expect people have come because they don’t know if the warm weather will last”, said Charles Baker, 36, from Hordle, Hampshire, who was visiting Bournemouth with his partner Aileen Simpson and one-year-old daughter Alice.
Unsettled weather is said to return to most areas by the end of this week, where temperatures are expected to slide back to the 70s. It’s still expected to be muggy and people without air conditioning at home may feel uncomfortable, especially at night time.
The muggy conditions has already encouraged millions of mating flying ants, the phenomenon has been described by pest control experts as “the biggest annual one-night stand in the UK”.
Managing director of Cleankill, Paul Bates said the insects don’t bite or sting people, he explains “the problem normally disappears on its own within a few hours”. He added that people shouldn’t waste their money on calling someone out to eradicate them.
Workers in Japan are keeping cool over the soaring summer heat, but wearing jackets which have their own inbuilt air conditioning fans.
As Japan seeks more innovative ways of staying cool whilst still saving energy after its nuclear crisis, sales for clothes with their own personal cheap air conditioner system are soaring.
The jackets are produced by Kuchofuku Co Ltd and each one contains 2 electric fans powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, which lasts for 11 hours on a single charge and requires significantly less energy than conventional air conditioning.
It may not look like the most attractive piece of clothing to wear, but it’s compensated for its cooling. The jacket costs around 11,000 yen which is around £87 and can draw in up to 20 litres of air per second, which then circulates throughout the jacket before seeping out through the cuffs and collars.
Ryo Igarashi, one of the recent customers said, “I work in a very hot place and have to wear long sleeved outfits, so I came over to buy this to stay cool and to prevent heat stroke”.
The president of Kuchofuku Co Ltd, Hiroshi Ichigaya, describes how the idea of “personal air conditioning” came about, “”It came to me that we don’t need to cool the entire room, just as long as people in it feel cool”.
Other popular cooling products made by the company includes mattresses and cushions, which contains their patented plastic mesh system allowing the circulation of air.
The products made by Kuchofuku Co Ltd are not new. However, with the nuclear crisis and energy saving efforts, there has been a huge rush of popularity for the cooling devices and garments.
It doesn’t happen very often for us in the UK, but when it does, we can definitely get hot under the collar from the summer heat. It’s nearly August and some of us have started to get uncomfortable at night. But don’t lose sleep because of the heat!
For those of us who have air conditioning units to keep us cool at work and at home, sometimes we can be wary of turning the units on because of the costs of running them. However, here are some top tips for getting the most out of your air conditioning unit.
Filters, filters, filters! You may have heard it all before, but keeping them clean is vital for peak efficiency, and can be ignored.
Close the doors and windows to keep the cool air in and hot air out when using your air conditioner. It may be an obvious tip, but we’ve all seen it happen before, whether it’s at work or at the gym. At home, you could also block the vents in unused rooms, if you have central air.
If you work in a shop or store, close your doors and don’t let the cool air fly out the window. Some countries have rules to fine store owners, who leave their doors open and air con running.
Each degree lower increases cooling costs by 6%, so set the thermostats no lower than 78 degrees.
To save money on cheap air conditioning units, turn off your appliances that you aren’t using and turn off your lights, set a timer to turn them on and off if necessary.
Run appliances such as washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and dryers in the late night or early morning when it’s generally cooler. With the British summer, it’s a great excuse to cook outside with your barbecue – make the most out of the sunshine, if possible!
Research suggests that when our heads begins to heat up, yawning allows cool air to bring our brain back down to a good temperature. Our brain works like a computer – best when it’s cool! Putting too much strain on it can cause overheating which decreases its skill to process information.
It was revealed in a study in Arizona with a sample of 160 volunteers that when their body temperature was higher than the air that was around them in the winter, they yawned almost twice as much.
Princeton University who conducted the study, said that there would be less benefit from yawning in summer because the air is warmer than their bodies.
Our brain temperature depends on the amount of processing that the brain has to do, the rate at which the blood goes to the brain and also the temperature of the blood.
Dr Andrew Gallup led Princeton University’s research, explained that an overheated brain encourages signs of drowsiness, which could suggest why we also yawn when we are tired.
Gallup said “When you are warmer you are more likely to feel tired. At night when you are about to sleep your body temperature is at its highest point of the day.”
The study involved researchers analysing how frequently a group of 80 people yawned in response to images of other people yawning during the winter, and then did the same exercise with another group of volunteers in the summer.
The study showed that 45% of people responded to the pictures by yawning themselves in winter, when outdoor temperatures averaged 21 degrees. However, in the summer, fewer than a quarter yawned when conditions were much hotter.
Gallup explained that after participants had spent five minutes outside and their bodies had a chance to sense the difference of temperature, the effect was especially strong.
He also added that in a previous research in rats, showed that yawning was activated by quick increases in brain heat and was followed by an unexpected fall in temperature.
Summer makes motorists angry on the roads
The research shows that during the summer, over a third have had an accident whilst nearly 1 in 10 speed when the heat rises. With this report, it could be safer that we don’t get much hot weather in Britain!
The most common reason why motorists drive badly when the sun is shining is because they get too flustered and hot. 14% of drivers own up to driving worse in the heat and have had their anger levels rise as the heat does, as well as get a short temper when more cars are on the road.
Nearly half of UK motorists get distracted by other bad drivers on the roads during the summer months, according to the report. Another distraction for 1 in 5 people is singing along to music!
Communications director at Kia Motors UK, Steve Kitson, says, “Whilst the summer sun is guaranteed to life the mood of the natin it is clear that Brit’s can’t take the heat.”
Kitson explains that “Although hot weather in the UK is often rare, it has the effect of getting drivers flustered as there are more distractions on the road. Kia urges all drivers to show care and diligence at all times no matter what the weather or in fact whatever day of the week.”
24% of motorists confess to being distracted if they see an attractive person walking along, so it’s not just the excitement of speeding in the sunshine that makes people drive badly.
According to the report, 85% of the nation has experienced one or more accidents on the road in their lifetime and the average UK driver is distracted 1.84 each day.
The average bill is £635 to repair a car after damage caused in an accident and there’s also an increase of the driver’s next motor insurance quote premiums to think about, so getting behind the wheel and getting hot and bothered is the cost of an impact.
Make sure that you remember to turn up your cheap air con units or wind down the windows to keep cool, to avoid getting angry in the driving seat!
It’s officially Autumn in the UK
Forecasters predicted unsettled weather throughout the week and it won’t get much better throughout September, so there’s no need to have your air conditioning units switched on.
According to the Met Office, it has been the worst summer in Britain since 1993. Dan Williams, Met Office forecaster, said “Northwest Britain is looking unsettled with showers and even gales. For the South East, we’ll see rain but in general it’s going to be drier and more settled,” which sounds like a very uncertain prediction.
There were gusts of wind up to 60mph in some places in Britain. Railways across the country were disrupted by trees falling on the tracks causing cancellations, ferries along the south cost were severely disrupted and some of London’s tube stations were also closed due to flooding.
Southend’s mile long pleasure pier’s supports and decking were also damaged after a giant barge was blown into the structure.
We still have our fingers crossed for some sunshine though!
SXA55XWXPPH3
Stephen Fry’s shows us his 100 Greatest Gadgets
“It’s not the order in which things are invented that makes them the most impressive, it’s the importance they have to humanity. So my number one is this: fire with a flick of the fingers,” Fry explains.
Other gadgets in Fry’s list included the Nintendo Wii, telephone, kettle, karaoke machine, iphone, ipad and ipod, which made some people to believe that the TV show was sponsored by Apple.
We were surprised that air conditioning was not seen on the list of the greatest gadgets, however, the fan came in number 68, which shows people do appreciate keeping cool in the UK! One of the fans that were mentioned was the innovative Dyson bladeless fan.
There are many polls and countdowns on Channel 4, which are usually open to public voting beforehand, however all the gadgets for ‘Stephen Fry’s 100 Greatest Gadgets’ were chosen by Stephen Fry himself, as the title of the show suggests.
Some presenters and comedians also featured in the show, by giving their views and opinions on a few of the gadgets. Al Murray, a comedian said he couldn’t imagine life without a toaster and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said he would struggle to imagine life without scissors.
People who watched the programme may be been unsure what Fry’s definition of a gadget was as among the list was a corkscrew, whistle and a pen.
What is your favourite gadget?
Weather is not setting back Britons over the Bank Holiday Weekend
However, the predicted torrential rain did not occur, but there were some thundery and heavy showers. Some areas of the capital city saw between 5mm to 10mm of rain in a few hours, while other areas just experienced some light rain. Even though there was no sunshine, most people felt the muggy, humid weather and stayed by their refrigeration units in London!
Despite the weather, Britain is braced for the Bank Holiday weekend and not holding back. Almost 27 million drivers are set to tackle the roads over the long weekend.
According to esure, travel chaos will lead to the average motorist spending almost 2 hours stuck in traffic jams.
According to figures, Britons are still planning to visit the seaside despite the horrible weather, with Brighton and Blackpool being the top destinations.
There are also a couple of big festivals happening over the weekend including Reading and Leeds, which will add to the congestion. Festival goers are hoping that they will be lucky enough to get the same sunshine as people who went to V festival last weekend.
Head of risk and underwriting at esure, Mike Pickard said “Traffic jams are a given for any Bank Holiday but this year it seems more Brits than ever are planning to hit the roads as uncertainty over booking foreign holidays has seen a rise in popularity of the staycation”
Pickard adds, “We would advise motorists to check weather and traffic reports before setting off and ensure they have completed a thorough vehicle check.
“Planning ahead by choosing a route that avoids holiday hotspots and driving off-peak is a great way to beat the traffic and make the most of your long weekend,” Pickard advises.
Don’t be a Victim of Air Conditioner Theft
Examples of thefts across the USA include Illinois State University, where 56 air con units were stolen and a church in Houston that had been a cool refuge, had its nine huge air conditioning units gutted and stolen for its copper. The New York Times said that the damage amounted to $60,000 for what was worth about $400 worth of scrap metal. In Georgia, police stopped a van and discovered 6 air conditioning units inside, and arrested 3 people shortly after.
But there are a few things companies and organisations can do to make their air conditioning units less of a target – summers not over just yet!
Build a fence – A fence with a padlock could be installed around the air conditioning units to deter thieves (remember to leave enough space for maintenance and servicing!)
Build a cage – Air conditioner cages could be anchored to the ground to stop thieves from stealing the cage and the air conditioning units inside.
Get an alarm – A professional could install an alarm on the working parts of the unit so that it makes an alarm if taken apart.
Install lights – Another idea would be to add security lighting to deter thieves as well as alert people who are around the building.
Taking these precautions could not only help protect your air conditioning units from being stolen, but could also deter thieves from damaging your property or stealing anything else from your building.
Is your air conditioning unit keeping its cool?
As the key component of your homes air con system relies on the coils within the unit to remain free to cool the incoming air, you should keep in clear of debris by removing grass and weeds, as well as keeping a lookout for any insects.
To do this, switch off the electric power, remove the sheet metal screws and lift off the housing. Remove the debris and use a cloth to clean off the coils, some people use a garden hose but this is at your own risk. If you do choose to use a garden hose, do your best to avoid the electronics as there is a risk of electric shocks. Check for any bent coils and straighten them as well as you can before replacing the housing and tighten all the screws carefully.
Next, check for insects, especially for ants as they can be a dangerous intruder. Ants will take up habitation in your air conditioner as they seek shade and water, which can cost you a lot of money. You could have your ducts sealed which could help keep insects out and also puts a stop to hot air leaks into return ducts, which can overburden your air conditioning unit.
Don’t forget to check your filters and clean them on a regular basis (depending on how much you use them) as well as keeping an eye out for leaks as early as possible.
Following these tips and maintaining your air conditioning unit should help ensure a longer life for them.
Hoorah! Summer has arrived!
After swapping our T-shirts for jumpers, not using sunscreen for the past few weeks and even seeing Autumn/Winter 2011 clothes pop up in shop windows, we have finally enjoyed some much needed heat over the weekend and more is on its way.
So far we have had 26c, with the promise of up to 28c (82f) in some areas of Britain in the coming days.
Millions of Britons took advantage of the hot spell and headed to British beaches over the weekend, to paddle in the sea and soak up the sun. Some areas saw their car parks full by Sunday morning and hotels also had “no vacancies” in their windows.
However, we all know what the weather is like in Britain and good things have to come to an end. The hot spell will be short lived and we could see thunderstorms in many areas, along with swarms of flying ants, forecasters have warned.
“In the next few days the conditions are likely to set off thunderstorms just about anywhere in the country. That will herald low temperatures for most parts. People should make the most of the weather while they can”, said Andy Bodenham, Met Office forecaster.
Bournemouth’s seven miles of beaches was full of deck chairs on Sunday.
“It’s glorious today. The beach is really busy and I expect people have come because they don’t know if the warm weather will last”, said Charles Baker, 36, from Hordle, Hampshire, who was visiting Bournemouth with his partner Aileen Simpson and one-year-old daughter Alice.
Unsettled weather is said to return to most areas by the end of this week, where temperatures are expected to slide back to the 70s. It’s still expected to be muggy and people without air conditioning at home may feel uncomfortable, especially at night time.
The muggy conditions has already encouraged millions of mating flying ants, the phenomenon has been described by pest control experts as “the biggest annual one-night stand in the UK”.
Managing director of Cleankill, Paul Bates said the insects don’t bite or sting people, he explains “the problem normally disappears on its own within a few hours”. He added that people shouldn’t waste their money on calling someone out to eradicate them.
Cooling Down with Built in Air Conditioned Clothing
As Japan seeks more innovative ways of staying cool whilst still saving energy after its nuclear crisis, sales for clothes with their own personal cheap air conditioner system are soaring.
The jackets are produced by Kuchofuku Co Ltd and each one contains 2 electric fans powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, which lasts for 11 hours on a single charge and requires significantly less energy than conventional air conditioning.
It may not look like the most attractive piece of clothing to wear, but it’s compensated for its cooling. The jacket costs around 11,000 yen which is around £87 and can draw in up to 20 litres of air per second, which then circulates throughout the jacket before seeping out through the cuffs and collars.
Ryo Igarashi, one of the recent customers said, “I work in a very hot place and have to wear long sleeved outfits, so I came over to buy this to stay cool and to prevent heat stroke”.
The president of Kuchofuku Co Ltd, Hiroshi Ichigaya, describes how the idea of “personal air conditioning” came about, “”It came to me that we don’t need to cool the entire room, just as long as people in it feel cool”.
Other popular cooling products made by the company includes mattresses and cushions, which contains their patented plastic mesh system allowing the circulation of air.
The products made by Kuchofuku Co Ltd are not new. However, with the nuclear crisis and energy saving efforts, there has been a huge rush of popularity for the cooling devices and garments.
Getting the most out of your air conditioning unit
For those of us who have air conditioning units to keep us cool at work and at home, sometimes we can be wary of turning the units on because of the costs of running them. However, here are some top tips for getting the most out of your air conditioning unit.
Filters, filters, filters! You may have heard it all before, but keeping them clean is vital for peak efficiency, and can be ignored.
Close the doors and windows to keep the cool air in and hot air out when using your air conditioner. It may be an obvious tip, but we’ve all seen it happen before, whether it’s at work or at the gym. At home, you could also block the vents in unused rooms, if you have central air.
If you work in a shop or store, close your doors and don’t let the cool air fly out the window. Some countries have rules to fine store owners, who leave their doors open and air con running.
Each degree lower increases cooling costs by 6%, so set the thermostats no lower than 78 degrees.
To save money on cheap air conditioning units, turn off your appliances that you aren’t using and turn off your lights, set a timer to turn them on and off if necessary.
Run appliances such as washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and dryers in the late night or early morning when it’s generally cooler. With the British summer, it’s a great excuse to cook outside with your barbecue – make the most out of the sunshine, if possible!