How do you stay cool?

High temperatures are predicted for much of the U.S. today--even Madison is expecting heat and humidity--and everyone is looking to stay cool.

As I reflected on ways to beat the heat, I realized that managing hot weather has always been a challenge, particularly in the days before our modern conveniences. This led me to Wikipedia where there is a fascinating history of air conditioning going back to early Chinese dynasties and ancient Rome. Modern methods for air cooling using CFCs were developed in the early 20th century which are now giving way to non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

Today, while air conditioning equipment is widespread and has improved the quality of life in hot climates in the south and western United States, it is not ubiquitous. Over the holiday weekend, I spent some time in Duluth, Minnesota where I grew up, at my parents' house which does not have air conditioning. And for Duluth's usually mild summer temperatures (and famously cold winter temps!), it's not really justified. However on this hot and sticky weekend, it left us trying to stay cool some old fashioned ways like seeking shade, drinking something cool and heading to the lakeshore for a dip in Lake Superior's chilly 60-some degree water.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with air conditioning--did you have it growing up? Do you have it now? Where are you in the country (or world)? Please share with us in the comments below.

And while you're thinking these thoughts about cooling, think about your friends and neighbors too who may need some help staying cool today.

Photo by Steve Moses via Flickr

V9ZX8SXRFJUU

Climate change (or not): impact on foundations of real estate in France. What about U.S.?

Some background: The extent to which the climate is changing is subject to lots of scientific and popular debate. While the scientists and the press fight it out, policy-makers must decide how to move forward. In France, the government put together a number of groups from the ministries of agriculture, health, the environment and ecology, and the prime minister’s office with the mandate to agree on a set of projections to be used by all government agencies for policymaking.

The issue: The document points to some issues already affecting French real estate. Here is one I wanted to highlight: changes in weather pattern are affecting the depth at which clay soils move during the year (contracts when drying and expands with water). The level at which contractions and expansions take place has reached deep enough to affect the foundations of some homes, in particular in the south of France. Today, the reported damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

Is anyone aware of any such issue/damage in the U.S.?

François Ortalo-Magné is the Robert E. Wangard Chair of Real Estate at Wisconsin. With expertise in housing, agricultural land markets and policies, and international real estate, he has done extensive research on fluctuations of housing transactions and prices.