My older brother, Ken, lives all the way across the country. I like to visit Ken once or twice per year. The first time I ever stayed with him, it was the beginning of August. The weather was unbearably hot outside and the humidity was off the charts. Since his house lacks a central air conditioner, I was sort of anxious about how I would be able to stay comfortable. Ken installed a window air conditioner into the guest bedroom, which worked like a charm. I really liked that I could customize the temperature setting to my preference. The wireless remote could not have been easier to operate. I didn’t even need to get out of bed to set the temperature, regulate humidity or adjust the fan speed. I also enjoyed the noise of that the window unit made. It was just loud enough to drown out the sound of Ken’s drums, the neighbor’s chainsaw, and the neighborhood kids playing outside. I slept beautifully every night. The next time I stayed with my older brother, I planned to visit for the New Year’s Day. Although his house features a state-of-the-art forced air furnace, I was not as comfortable. There only one thermostat, located in the living room, with determines the temperature for the entire house. The living room features large windows which get a lot of wind exposure, so the living room tends to be colder than the rest of the house. The thermostat reacts accordingly, leaving the guest room entirely too hot. I was so overheated, I had trouble falling asleep in the evening and woke up several times a night covered with sweat. Plus, the oil furnace is nearly silent, so it fails to disguise the sounds of the drums, chainsaws, and kids, not to mention the sound of snowplows driving by. I even heard the furnace start and stop all night. I’m now trying to convince Ken to invest in zone control for his house.Having my own thermostat to regulate when I visit him would make things far more comfortable, plus he would save a good chunk of money. His guest room is not usually occupied, so he is paying to heat it for no reason.