I am not sure how to respond to your post, but glad that you enjoyed our site. Thanks.

And I am wondering with many people saying schools in Queensland should have air conditioning have they and Queensland Education even looked at the other school mentioned above?

I had not heard of the Koolgardie Safe. Did some research. I have thought of the water wist thing, not sure how the use of water like this sites with me. Also wondered if setting up something similar to the Koolgardie Safe on our back deck might work. If it did work, it would only work in the afternoons. All suggestions are under consideration. On Rachel’s side Cherry Blossom, we are going to create insulation on the side of building using vines to shield her wall from the direct sunlight. We will also be tinting the glass on the front and side of her shop. This should help heaps, and I think I need to look at ways to simply remove some of the heat that gets trapped under her ceiling. Already plenty of options for her shop. Thanks for the compliments.

Kendall,

Tried to respond directly to your email but it kept bouncing back.
Thank you for your kind words.

To both of you,
You both bring up excellent points that I had not thought of. I am even more convinced now that we need to be not only looking for alternatives but trying them. And it can be amazing how people can consider an alternative once they see it working. So fingers crossed we have some of them up and running by next summer.

Please, if anyone is reading this, keep the cooling suggestions coming. And if it is something you are interested in (alternatives, that is) you will be welcome to get involved. Installing air conditioning requires a phone number, often alternatives require a community.

Thanks again. Morgs.

Thought I’d send a reply to your little ‘Air Conditioning’ monologue as I couldn’t agree with you more!! It worries me that I (as a person who refuses to get airconditioning in my house because of very similar reasons to yours detailed above) am a minority amongst my friends and the wider community. It seems so many people have convinced themselves that a/c is not a luxury item anymore – it’s a necessity in their minds. I think it’s crazy! No one seems to think about the impact of their lifestyle choices on the world. And this is coming from someone that is by no means a earth-worshipping hippy, I just think that as a society we need to be more aware of our impact on our world. So I’m with you: stand fast on the no a/c at UG. The coffee is superb, the service friendly and personal and in my mind that makes up in leaps and bounds for no a/c. I would choose an un-air conditioned UG over any number of the other Brisbane cafes that are airconditioned but serve uninspiring coffee and have no soul! Keep up the great work Morgan – we love UG!!

Cheers
kendall

I’m with you re airconditioners – we have neighbours who have their new ducted AC running 24/7. Over the holidays we rarely saw the young children who were inside. We were amazed as most days were really pleasant outdoors.
I remember long hot summers from my childhood living on a farm – no AC.. no FANS, no AC in cars, no swimming pools and in the drought times no water in the creeks and every drop in the raintanks too precious to waste. Our only respite was a swim at the beach on Sundays and homemade frozen ice blocks.
However I really don’t think our summers are that much hotter… I think we have the opportunities to gain respite from the heat and we look for every opportunity to do so.
With all the talk on global warming and the effects of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions, I find it disappointing that AC units have become relatively cheap which has led to the huge influx in home installations. Now our peak energy demands are in summer.
AS for your sweltering at the controls of the coffee machine… just take longer with your head in the frige looking for the milk! Enough of my musings… and procrastinations, I should be studying for an exam.
See you soon… for a cup of the best coffee in town!