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Texas thermostats adjusted remotely during heat wave residents claim
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User Banned (1 Week): Inflammatory Generalization; Body Shaming; Prior Warning for Insensitive Commentary
Thats because 2/3 of us citizens are overweight or obese, they tend to cook on their own fat at temperatures over 30°C.
Same. Florida here and we prefer 68 to 70 lol. Fucking humidity hurts too. My fiance dad keeps his AC on 80, won't change it for people and he wonders why we don't come over often lol.
Googled for shits and giggles and apparently my state is the hottest in the US go figure.
So this is my first summer living in Germany as an American, and like nothing over here has central a/c for a variety of reasons. We've been in a bit of a heat wave the past few days, and I also thought I was one of those people that would never be able to sleep in rooms above, say, 72 degrees; like I'm a large, hairy, very sweaty man. Well, we have no ac unit, not even a fan of any kind, and I've been totally fine with the 90+ temperatures the past few days. My German wife looked moritifed when I told her some of the responses in this thread, and she was always freezing when she stayed with me in America.
I know that's not the exact point of this thread, as yeah, this is some pretty fucked up cyberpunk dystopia bullshit. But I just feel like I was so pampered in America, and to the detriment of the environment and even my own health. It's just so interesting how fast my body and mentality has adjusted to living in a place that didn't accommodate for me at all. And I'm better off for it
I know that's not the exact point of this thread, as yeah, this is some pretty fucked up cyberpunk dystopia bullshit. But I just feel like I was so pampered in America, and to the detriment of the environment and even my own health. It's just so interesting how fast my body and mentality has adjusted to living in a place that didn't accommodate for me at all. And I'm better off for it
What is the problem?
Or do you prefer a freezer and wearing a pullover inside?
Yup. I know I shouldn't be but again I'm kinda shocked at the waste of resources by US citizens' AC usage.
In Germany and most of Europe we simply get used to >25°C indoor temperatures during summer. Currently we are in the middle of a heatwave and it's probably way warmer than that in my apartment. No one has an AC (only fans/ventilators).
Energy needs to become much more expensive in the US.
that's exactly a possibility with that Bloomberg article that encouraged renting.
I freeze at 72. 78 is perfection since moving to FL.
Back in NY 68 used to be perfection.
My AC went out one day when I lived in an apartment in Florida. I put in a maintenance request, then went to bed without cracking any windows thinking I'd be fine because it was night time. I woke up at around 4am drenched in sweat and my thermostat said 94. That shit was ridiculous.
Here in France we've got 6" sheep's wool insulation in the walls, 2ft+ thick stone walls, and lots of very efficient insulation in the roof.
As long as I can convince my wife that opening the window when it's really hot outside actually makes it hotter inside, we're generally ok. No fancy pants AC unit for us! Insulation keeps us cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
We have the same problem in the car, she puts the AC on and opens the windows!
As long as I can convince my wife that opening the window when it's really hot outside actually makes it hotter inside, we're generally ok. No fancy pants AC unit for us! Insulation keeps us cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
We have the same problem in the car, she puts the AC on and opens the windows!
OP
OP
My apartment in germany is pretty well insulted but has a giant window / patio door for an entire wall. Even that is insutled enough but I feel like I'd have to block out the sun all day everyday to keep it relatively cool.
FACTS. Happened twice to us. It's either a hotel until it's fixed or blocking the windows to try to keep more heat from coming in while staying still with multiple fans on you. Losing power in the summer sucks too, because there's nothing you can do but leave until it comes back on or roast in there :/
And say good bye to the food in the fridge too.
I mean, that's 24 degrees in
It's ... not good. 😭
In winter, more than 20° seem really high: I'm usually around 16 or 17° inside my bedroom and around 19-20° inside my main room.
Use a fan, even at the slowest speed (full speed feels only useful when I want to cool down a room during the night), it make 24° more than bearable. With one, I can support up to 28° without breaking a sweat, pun intended. Over 28° is when it begin to be harder for me, even with a fan but my room usually only heat that much at the end of the day.
If its anywhere in the 70's im fine. Its the humidity that determines whether I feel miserable or not more than anything.
lol
There is no comparison between Maryland and somewhere like Texas where the heat can be in the 90's to 100's with brutal humidity.
"use the AC just a little to get rid of humidity" yeah that's not possible in places like Houston or much of the south.
Issue is that I'm overly sensitive to noise when I'm sleeping, so the fan even at its lowest setting would keep me awake.
I used to try to cap it at 72 in the winter but it's too cold for others in the household.
My apartment doesn't go below 29°C (84°F) at night, but it's not like you have a choice other than getting used to it since the rest of the year doesn't get as hot. It was much easier living in a hotter climate with an AC.
Can't speak for everywhere, but a lot of homes are very poorly insulated and not at all designed with good airflow in mind.
Hell for a lot of homes, most windows aren't even really designed to be opened.
I remember when travelling in the US how cold stores and restaurants tended to be, but I didn't expect Americans to do the same at home. I really didn't like going from well above 30°C outside to 20 (or even below that) inside, I always felt like catching a cold at some point and I was actually freezing in some stores.
25°C (78°F) inside sounds pretty good and would probably be what I'd set my AC to if I had one. Though it only gets really uncomfortable for me once temperatures reach 28-29°C (82-84°F).
25°C (78°F) inside sounds pretty good and would probably be what I'd set my AC to if I had one. Though it only gets really uncomfortable for me once temperatures reach 28-29°C (82-84°F).
Insulation only helps temporarily or if at least the nights are somewhat cool. Otherwise, temperatures indoors and outdoors will align at some point, that's just thermodynamics.
Or an even easier fix, don't sign up for the voluntary program!
Seriously this is not some dystopian nightmare scenario. It's a fundamental lack of people understanding what the fuck they are doing. Read what you are signing up for!
Growing up when AC was a luxury. 78 doesn't sound so bad.
We could finally afford to use it and we set it to 78 because it was cost efficient. Way better than the 110+ it would get.
We could finally afford to use it and we set it to 78 because it was cost efficient. Way better than the 110+ it would get.
Even taking into account variations in humidity and thus body response / perceived temperature, some of the takes in this thread are frightening. Your body will be fine even if your home is a bit hot. Fans make things a lot more bearable and are hugely more energy-efficient.
Get on with the times. AC usage should be regulated in the US, you guys are absolutely unhinged statistically.
Get on with the times. AC usage should be regulated in the US, you guys are absolutely unhinged statistically.
Utilities a few years back were giving away new, free digital thermostats to people who hand-waved the fine print saying that during peak usage periods, utilities could remotely change your thermostat settings.
But you get this super-awesome shiny new touch-pad digital thermostat for FREE!!!
(You can buy the same exact thing at Home Depot for like $40 and not have anyone but you touch it)
It comfortable but not cool haha. I grew up in a house set to between 78-80 when we actually had central AC. The humidity here makes it so 78 isn't very cool.
It definitely much better than the outside temps of 95+ with high humidity.
As far as I'm aware, most utility companies offer rebates on smart thermostats without opting into a smart energy savings program because adjustable thermostats naturally lead to a reduction of energy usage. By signing up for a smart savings program, you are typically provided with some money at the end of the program. Looking at my case with NYSEG, we would get $65 back at the end, in addition to whatever is saved by using less AC. You can opt out at any time as well, though obviously you'd forfeit the rewards.
This really isn't even remotely sinister, and I cannot believe the fuss people have here with 78 degrees at certain peak times. It's a good way to help your utility company, your wallet, and the planet, and it's entirely optional.