There have been excessively high temperatures in the US this week and authorities are calling for an air conditioning mandate.
Americans from California and Texas to Maryland have experienced excessive heat that can lead to hazards in certain circumstances.
Austin Council Member Vanessa Fuentes called on the city to require residents to have AC 15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature, Community impact reported.
The city is moving closer to passing the building code temperature code in July.
“Just step out to show why we need this,” Fuentes said, per Community Impact.
“When our neighbors collapse from heat illness, suffer from exhaustion and face high risks of wildfires, they will need a cool place to stay.”
Dallas and Houston have temperature restrictions for residential buildings.
However, similar legislation for mandatory AC in Austin was denied in 2023.
The long heat wave in the USA has broken several records and is affecting both the West and the East with dangerous temperatures.
About 36 million people, or 10% of the U.S. population, are under an excessive heat warning, according to the National Weather Service.
High temperatures have made it difficult to operate even emergency medical helicopters, which cannot safely fly above 120 F, according to the Associated Press.
HOT TEMPERATURES
The heat is causing stress for some Americans, while others are thrilled to experience the record temperatures.
Death Valley, located in California, receives some of the hottest temperatures in the US and people travel there because of it.
Death Valley officials have advised people to avoid visiting the park because temperatures have been so hot recently.
“While this is a very exciting time to experience potentially world-record temperatures in Death Valley, we encourage visitors to choose their activities carefully,” park superintendent Mike Reynolds told the Associated Press.
Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list for me
Tourist Chris Kinsel
“Avoid prolonged periods of time outside an air-conditioned vehicle or building when temperatures are so high,” he continued.
Some visitors, like Chris Kinsel and Tracy Housley, expressed excitement about experiencing extreme temperatures despite the risks.
“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list for me,” Kinsel said, per AP News.
‘For most of my life I’ve wanted to come here in the summer.’
“We just thought, let’s be there for this,” Housley said.
“Let’s go for the experience.”
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