How things change
I think back to how things used to be when I was growing up when it comes to air conditioning, and wow how I can tell you things have changed! Back then, we all had window air conditioning systems and that was all that was really available to cool your home at an affordable rate.
Sure, there was central heating and air conditioning systems but they were very expensive and only those who had tons of money could afford them.
Today, window air conditioning systems have almost been phased out all together because central heating and air conditioning systems are affordable to the average working class person now. And this has been this way for at least the last 20 years or more. And really, it is a good thing because central air conditioning in my opinion is much better than window air conditioning units. Also, a central air conditioning system is there all the time, all year round and combines with your central heating. All controlled by the thermostat on the wall in your hallway or elsewhere. With window air conditioning systems you always had to instal them and then remove them when the season was over. Not to mention how heavy those things were to move around. I remember a friend of mine actually dropped theirs once and broke it! You do not have these risks with central heating and air conditioning system units. And if you want something that is not central air conditioning, you can always get a portable air conditioner.