PHOENIX — A man who intentionally went without air conditioning on the hottest August day in Phoenix history advises others to stay safe during extreme heat.
Paul Farmer, who is cataloguing every day of his “No A/C challenge,” said Thursday was especially difficult to endure.
Temperatures reached 118 degrees, matching July 9 for the highest temperature of the year. Not only that, but it also made history as the hottest August day in Phoenix since records started being kept by the National Weather Service.
Farmer is on day 77 of his self-imposed to challenge. He plans to take all the money he saves from not using his A/C and pay it forward to families in need.
“We officially reached the amount to help out at least one family in the community … pay the whole electric bill (for the entire year),” Farmer told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos on Thursday.
The sky’s the limit, he added. Ultimately, he hopes to help two more families in this way.
“I’m withstanding the heat so others can stay cool in the future,” Farmer said.
However, he wants other people to know the hazards of going without A/C during Arizona’s extremely hot summer.
“This is a very dangerous challenge that I’m in and a very dangerous situation as well, but I want to make sure and reiterate that I do have all of the means to stay safe,” Farmer said. “I just want to make sure that everybody knows that I am staying as safe as possible.”
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