diff --git a/Climate.java b/Climate.java
index 8722a4f..eee6e1e 100644
--- a/Climate.java
+++ b/Climate.java
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
+//for all arrays, index 0 is driver's side, index 1 is passenger's side
+
 public class Climate {
-    public int[] targetTemp; //array to store temps, index 0 is driver, index 1 i passenger
-    public int[] currentTemp;
-    public boolean coolingActive;
-    public boolean heatingActive;
+    private int[] targetTemp; //array to store temp preference entered by user
+    private int[] currentTemp; //stores current internal temp from last check
+    private int externalTemp; //stores current external temp from last check
+    private boolean[] coolingActive; //whether cooling is toggled on (true) or off (false)
+    private boolean[] heatingActive; //whether heating is toggled on (true) or off (false)
     public enum fanLevels {OFF, LOW, MED, HI}; //standardization of fan levels
     fanLevels[] fanSpeed; //array to store fan speeds, zones match temp indices
 
@@ -17,10 +20,77 @@ public class Climate {
         targetTemp[1] = passengerZone;
     }
 
-    public void updateCurrentTemps() { //queries temp sensors for current cabin temp
-        HelperFunctions tSensor = new HelperFunctions();
-        currentTemp = tSensor.tempSensors();
+    private int avgTargetTemp() { //gets internal target average for ease of calculation
+        return (targetTemp[0] + targetTemp[1])/2;
     }
 
+    private void updateCurrentTemps() { //queries temp sensors for current cabin temp
+        HelperFunctions tSensor = new HelperFunctions();
+        currentTemp = tSensor.internalTempSensors();
+        externalTemp = tSensor.externalTempSensors();
+    }
 
+    public int[] getTargetTemps() {
+        return targetTemp;
+    }
+
+    public int[] getCurrentTemps() {
+        return currentTemp;
+    }
+
+    public void activateClimate() {
+        updateCurrentTemps(); //check current temps before actioning logic
+        if (externalTemp >= avgTargetTemp()) { //puts logic into "cooling" mode
+            //driver's side
+            if (targetTemp[0]+1 < currentTemp[0]) {coolingActive[0] = true;} //provides 1 deg buffer to prevent excessive activation/deactivation
+            if (targetTemp[0] >= currentTemp[0]) {coolingActive[0] = false;}
+            //passenger's side
+            if (targetTemp[1]+1 < currentTemp[1]) {coolingActive[1] = true;}
+            if (targetTemp[1] >= currentTemp[1]) {coolingActive[1] = false;}
+        } else if (externalTemp < avgTargetTemp()) { //puts logic into "heating" mode
+            //driver's side
+            if (targetTemp[0]-1 > currentTemp[0]) {heatingActive[0] = true;}
+            if (targetTemp[0] <= currentTemp[0]) {heatingActive[0] = false;}
+            //passenger's side
+            if (targetTemp[1]-1 > currentTemp[1]) {heatingActive[1] = true;}
+            if (targetTemp[1] <= currentTemp[1]) {heatingActive[1] = false;}
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void setFanSpeeds(String driver, String passenger) { //maps a string passed in to the appropriate enum value
+        switch (driver) {
+            case "OFF":
+                fanSpeed[0] = fanLevels.OFF;
+                break;
+            case "LOW":
+                fanSpeed[0] = fanLevels.LOW;
+                break;
+            case "MED":
+                fanSpeed[0] = fanLevels.MED;
+                break;
+            case "HI":
+                fanSpeed[0] = fanLevels.HI;
+                break;
+        }
+
+        switch (passenger) {
+            case "OFF":
+                fanSpeed[1] = fanLevels.OFF;
+                break;
+            case "LOW":
+                fanSpeed[2] = fanLevels.LOW;
+                break;
+            case "MED":
+                fanSpeed[3] = fanLevels.MED;
+                break;
+            case "HI":
+                fanSpeed[4] = fanLevels.HI;
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public String[] getFanSpeeds() {
+        String[] workingString = {fanSpeed[0].toString(), fanSpeed[1].toString()};
+        return workingString;
+    }
 }