If you’ve been thanking the heavens for your A/C this week, spare a thought for Paul Farmer, who’s enduring the peak of Arizona’s summer without it—by choice.
Last year, Farmer went without air-conditioning out of financial necessity. This year, even with his finances in better shape, he’s voluntarily forgoing it again. Since May, he’s been documenting his “no A/C” challenge on social media, aiming to hold out until September 22, the official end of summer.
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A post shared by AZBACKPACK (@azbackpack)
Why would anyone put themselves through that, you’re probably asking? With the challenge, Farmer hopes to raise awareness, and funds, for those struggling to pay their electric bills in the extreme heat.
With indoor temperatures regularly creeping toward 100 degrees, Farmer has had to get creative. He’s placed tinfoil in the windows to keep out the heat and built a makeshift air-conditioning unit using a foam cooler. At night, he mostly sleeps on the floor, surrounded by ice packs, with multiple fans blasting.
@azbackpack Day 46 No A/C challenge In ARIZONA #aznoacchallenge ♬ Quiet vlog fashionable chill out(1501557) – Yu Yaguchi
@azbackpack Day 46 No A/C challenge In ARIZONA #aznoacchallenge ♬ Quiet vlog fashionable chill out(1501557) – Yu Yaguchi
Day 46 No A/C challenge In ARIZONA #aznoacchallenge
About 39 million Americans (roughly 12%) currently live without air conditioning, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Many simply can’t afford it. This summer, electric bills are projected to hit $784 on average, the highest cost in at least 12 years.
Farmer’s challenge comes as more than 168 million Americans are under active heat advisories, according to the National Weather Service. Extreme heat is responsible for around 700 deaths a year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Farmer has pledged to donate the money he saves on his bills to families in need, hoping to generate enough to pay three families’ electric bills for an entire year. With less than a month to go, his GoFundMe page is sitting at $2,377—85% toward his $2,800 goal.
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