Air conditioning seems to be one of the costs of entry for retailers, especially in the dog days of summer. But to some, it's also one of society's most shameful signs of energy waste.
Last summer, New York became the first city to pass a statute banning large retailers from propping open their doors to lure customers in with air-conditioning. A year later, a recent survey of 400 stores across five key shopping areas in the region found that 25 percent of them were in violation of the law. The survey was conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, which initially pushed for the law.
The article points out that keeping doors open can increase energy costs by as much as 25 percent but can lower temperatures in front of the store by as much as 20 degrees.
Eric Goldstein, the director of the defense council's Urban Program, estimated that 10 to 12 percent of the stores were technically in violation. The law only applies to stores with more than 4,000 square feet of space or chains with at least five stores in the city. The article also noted that rather than openly violating the law, most store employees didn't know of its existence.
Still, Mr. Goldstein said air-conditioning overuse is an emotional issue for New Yorkers.
"While it is not the No. 1 issue on the national environmental agenda, it's an issue that seems to get New Yorkers riled up," Mr. Goldstein said. "It's symbolic. If we can't find ways of altering our most energy wasting behavior, how will we tackle global warming?"
A separate article in the New York Times discussed the temptations around air conditioning overuse for retailers, which have been gaining green points for discouraging plastic bag use and other measures. The article addressed not only stores leaving doors open but "over air conditioning" in general. It noted that some fashion blogs have tallied the chilliest retailers in certain cities.
"The question becomes, 'How do you define over-air conditioned stores?'," Daniel Butler, the vice president for retail operations at the National Retail Federation and the head of its sustainability group, told the Times. Depending on the temperature, some customers will think the store is cool, others find it too hot and "some customers will think it's perfect," he said.
The practice of leaving front doors open, according to Mr. Butler, tends to be more common among independents. Larger retailers and malls have put more focus into energy consumption, with heating and air-conditioning managed centrally by electronic thermostat systems.
"Retailers don't want to waste money by over-air-conditioning their stores," he said.
Discussion Questions: Should retailers leave their doors open to lure in customers with air conditioning? Even with doors closed, are retailers guilty of the eco-sin of over-air conditioning?