tst123TIL just 20 of European homes have air conditioning compared to 88% in US
errerAlso most of Europe is significantly north of the USA so…yeah. Non-story.
Actually it’s mostly due to the construction materials and techniques used. American houses are generally less well insulated and built with the explicit expectation that there will be active air conditioning used to maintain the temperature.
Meanwhile in Europe this is not only comparatively very expensive to do, it is also largely unnecessary due to many buildings predating modern air conditioning, using good insulation and passive systems to maintain a comfortable temperature. There are also regulations on newly built houses that make it generally attractive to build energy efficient.
One thing I can promise you, even if it's not 2x4 production, those brick and plaster walls will turn a house into an oven over the summer even with judicious control of open windows.
Signed,
A resident of an un-air conditioned brick and plaster house in the mid Atlantic currently sweating his balls off
That’s been a problem with climate change in the UK where air conditioning doesn’t really exist but we are starting to experience warmer weather than the houses were built for.
Most British houses don’t have any insulation, that’s why they suck. Try a new build and feel the difference.
SwedneckCan confirm, so long as you have cool nights and insulated houses you don’t strictly need ACs, you can get by with opening all the windows at night and closing them (and closing the curtains) during the day so the cold is trapped inside.
I live in a new build and my biggest heating bill this winter was about above £60. I only have portable air con because I WFH and my giant 4K monitors heat up to +46 and just blast that heat into my face all day long. That’s awesome during the winter as I don’t have to heat my work room at all, but during the hottest days it becomes a problem. Other parts of the home don’t need air con at all. Was OK even during last year’s heatwave.
I have a new build but it doesn’t allow the heat to escape on the heat we’ve experienced during the last couple of summers (this summer excluded).
Do you even understand how to protect your home from the heat? When it’s hot outside, your insulation protects you from the hear outside. But there’s a weak link - your windows. You MUST cover them completely during the day. And also you MUST keep ALL windows closed during the day. That will keep your home cool. Then during the night when the temperature drops, you should open your windows for ventilation and cooling.