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Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

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Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#71

Post by Jtsummers »

turtlebits wrote: post #56
gwd wrote: post #53

> Because vasoconstriction only occurs when the core body temperature falls, it won't happen if you're dressed warmly enough. While insulating your neck and feet will greatly improve your thermal comfort, there is no need to wear gloves or caps indoors. In fact, it doesn't matter very much which parts of your body you choose to insulate - the important thing is to limit total heat loss so that the body core temperatu…

It's because you're sitting all day. Get a small foot heater.

I try to make it a point to get up at least once an hour for light exercise (pushups, bodyweight rows, squats, dips, maybe some jumping jacks) just to keep the blood flowing. Seems to be effective for me (my feet have a tendency to get very cold when sitting for too long). Plus it's better for my health (definitely improved muscle tone, even though I still cheat on the dips).

Takes less than 5 minutes every hour. Pair it with walking to the kitchen to top off the glass of water and staying hydrated, and my focus (when I get back) is generally much better than if I just sat at the desk all day with frozen feet.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#72

Post by leontrolski »

nickt wrote: post #46
ajuc wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found the same when I worked in UK. I'm from Poland and in the winter everybody wear winter clothes even if it's 5C. Homes are well insulated and heated. People in UK by default wear much colder clothes so they are more used to cold. The end effect was that me and my friend were going everywhere in coats while everybody else was in their shirts :) What's funny is that people that moved to Poland from Siberia had si…

It’s a long-standing joke in the North East. https://newsthump.com/2009/02/22/geordie-man-buys-coat/

Reminded me of Geordie Jumpers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOJzPXzcF_g

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#73

Post by chrisjarvis »

I have never lived in a cold climate, but this sounds sensible to me. Much of the FIRE, "Mr Moneymustache"-esque advice around saving money contains this suggestion.

I like this line: "Indeed, these high-insulating garments demonstrate how valuable fossil fuels are as a material, and how foolish we are to simply burn them." Thanks for sharing.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#74

Post by whatever1 »

lm28469 wrote: post #40

I've stopped using heating altogether since I moved out of my hometown (it was -20c or less in winter). When I'm cold I just add an extra layer of cloth or do a few squats or push/pull ups, heating XXX cubic meters of air is a pure waste of energy if you're healthy That being said your flat/home insulation plays a huge role. I'm living in Germany for a few years now, when it's 0c outside it's still 18c+ indoor even w…

It’s 18C in your flat because the neighbors are paying to heat theirs, so you get to free ride. Typical Balkan mentality.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#75

Post by didsomeonesay »

lm28469 wrote: post #40

I've stopped using heating altogether since I moved out of my hometown (it was -20c or less in winter). When I'm cold I just add an extra layer of cloth or do a few squats or push/pull ups, heating XXX cubic meters of air is a pure waste of energy if you're healthy That being said your flat/home insulation plays a huge role. I'm living in Germany for a few years now, when it's 0c outside it's still 18c+ indoor even w…

> it's still 18c+ indoor even without any heating in my flat

You can thank your neighbours.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#76

Post by kortilla »

grecy wrote: post #67
fnbr wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I find that people spend the least amount of money on insulation/heat that they can. I’m from Edmonton, and the coldest I’ve ever been was the winter when I lived in London, UK, as their insulation sucks and their heating sucks. In Edmonton, that’s not possible, because you have a few days of -40C weather annually, so your pipes will freeze without proper insulation (and you’ll die). Now, it’s not comfortable l…

The difference there is the humidity making you feel cold. I live in the Yukon where -40C is the standard daytime temp for months, and I'm perfectly happy/used to it. I felt cold to my bones in the UK.

The comment isn’t about the temps outside, it’s inside the house. The point was that in really cold places people have to have good heating and insulation so the house feels better than places with more mild winters.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#77

Post by lm28469 »

war1025 wrote: post #58
lm28469 wrote: post #40

I've stopped using heating altogether since I moved out of my hometown (it was -20c or less in winter). When I'm cold I just add an extra layer of cloth or do a few squats or push/pull ups, heating XXX cubic meters of air is a pure waste of energy if you're healthy That being said your flat/home insulation plays a huge role. I'm living in Germany for a few years now, when it's 0c outside it's still 18c+ indoor even w…

> I've stopped using heating altogether > heating XXX cubic meters of air is a pure waste of energy Tell me how you feel about that when the water in your pipes freezes. Because that is sure as hell not a good time.

Of course if you _have to_ heat then do it, as I said when I was going through -20c degrees winter you can't really escape it. I'd argue most people can live perfectly fine without heating. (not living up north / at high altitude / in cold micro climate).

People don't heat their flats/offices to 25c in Berlin or London to avoid frozen pipes. Unless you live in a 1800s house there is no way your pipe would freeze here

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#78

Post by giantg2 »

grecy wrote: post #67
fnbr wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I find that people spend the least amount of money on insulation/heat that they can. I’m from Edmonton, and the coldest I’ve ever been was the winter when I lived in London, UK, as their insulation sucks and their heating sucks. In Edmonton, that’s not possible, because you have a few days of -40C weather annually, so your pipes will freeze without proper insulation (and you’ll die). Now, it’s not comfortable l…

The difference there is the humidity making you feel cold. I live in the Yukon where -40C is the standard daytime temp for months, and I'm perfectly happy/used to it. I felt cold to my bones in the UK.

Agree. Humidity and altitude play a huge role in how cold it feels (and in how effective the cold is - specific heat).

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#79

Post by grecy »

kortilla wrote: post #76
grecy wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference there is the humidity making you feel cold. I live in the Yukon where -40C is the standard daytime temp for months, and I'm perfectly happy/used to it. I felt cold to my bones in the UK.

The comment isn’t about the temps outside, it’s inside the house. The point was that in really cold places people have to have good heating and insulation so the house feels better than places with more mild winters.

The humidity is still a big factor inside, and it's why you feel colder than in places with low humidity.

Re: Insulation: First the body, then the home (2011)

#80

Post by throw0101a »

hordeallergy wrote: post #68
throw0101a wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people just install A/C and call it a day. If you live in a humid area, then a separate whole-house dehumidifier is useful: * https://www.santa-fe-products.com/product-category/dehumidif... You can have a comfortable temperature 21C/72F, but a too-high RH, and since the temperature is correct, the AC won't kick in. Having an hygrometer helps with this.

A/c in the context of the article?

Whole-house dehumidifiers are more popular in humid climate zones, which also tend to be hot/not-cold. Though there are places that are both, at times cold and hot/humid:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_continental_climate

However, the general point stands in mostly-cold zones: it is possible to control humidity independently of temperature.

Also, most people want good indoor air quality, so bringing in filtered outside air, and tempering it with exhausted stale air is becoming more common (and is part of the building code in many regions):

* https://www.ecohome.net/guides/2276/choosing-between-an-hrv-...

* https://www.venmar.ca/23-detail-faq-en-what-is-the-differenc...

And that venting could help control humidity as well.

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