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Mamdani roasted for telling New Yorkers to set ACs to 78 as NYC heat wave hits
New York Post • • nation
Key Points:
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees to help ease the strain on the power grid during a severe heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees for the first time since 2012.
- The recommendation sparked backlash online, with critics accusing the mayor of authoritarianism and some residents vowing to keep their ACs at much lower temperatures in defiance.
- Mamdani emphasized that city buildings would comply with the 78-degree guideline, along with efforts to reduce electricity use by dimming lights and powering down non-essential equipment.
- The Department of Energy supports maintaining thermostats between 75 and 78 degrees in summer to conserve energy, and Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, made a similar call during a heat advisory in July 2023.
- Some locals questioned the fairness of the guideline, pointing out that energy-intensive areas like Times Square remain brightly lit 24/7, while residents are asked to limit their cooling.
