There is a certain irony to a conference about extreme heat getting canceled because of extreme heat.
Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
381–390 of 505 posts
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#382Europeans don’t get scolded enough for their resistance to air conditioning. In terms of accounting for preventable deaths, Greece has 2x more heat-related deaths per capita annually than Mississippi has gun deaths. By comparison, the worst US state for heat related deaths, Nevada - a literal desert - has >10x fewer deaths per capita than Greece.
A quick google shows Greece has a life expectancy ~83 years, while Nevada's is at ~76. A 7 year difference.
Heat death affects disproportionately those of old age. Everyone dying at 76 for other reasons is not going to die at 83 due to heat.
While it is true that Europeans don't have air conditioning at home for the most part, it's also true that those old Europeans that die during heatwaves would already have been dead in the USA. I am 99% confident that 98% of the difference in heat deaths can be explained in this way at the 95% CL (!)
Gun related deaths are simply a way for Americans to cope, I suppose! A bit of ragebait. I honestly hope you fix your health system.
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#383Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#384Europeans don’t get scolded enough for their resistance to air conditioning. In terms of accounting for preventable deaths, Greece has 2x more heat-related deaths per capita annually than Mississippi has gun deaths. By comparison, the worst US state for heat related deaths, Nevada - a literal desert - has >10x fewer deaths per capita than Greece.
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Heat affects the old disproportionately. Europeans have years of extra life expectancy (look at the Mediterranean countries, affected by the heat). It is not unexpected that more, older Europeans die during a heatwave. The Americans that would have died during a heatwave are already dead due to other causes.
The AC debate is not an honest one (or just an ignorant take). I really hope Americans can.fix their healthcare system.
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#385Europeans don’t get scolded enough for their resistance to air conditioning. In terms of accounting for preventable deaths, Greece has 2x more heat-related deaths per capita annually than Mississippi has gun deaths. By comparison, the worst US state for heat related deaths, Nevada - a literal desert - has >10x fewer deaths per capita than Greece.
Excuse me, it used to be livable here without aircon, you lot need to stop driving suv and reviving coal
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#386Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well yeah, because it requires re-engineering the entire built environment! Heat waves only became a serious problem in Europe in the last decade. The vast majority of buildings predate the need for air conditioning by several decades - and in plenty of cases by several centuries. The buildings are designed around being livable in a pre-climate-catastrophe climate without needing air conditioning - which is perfectly…
We have had heatwaves in Europe forever. The thing is people were used to adapting to them with shades and night/morning ventilation, and shifting their activities out of the hottest part of the day. This somehow seems to be beyond today's population and society. How dare this weather impact my schedule!
I’m sorry you think heatwaves now are the same as twenty years ago.
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#387Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can buy a portable unit for like 300e and seal the window with a piece of plexiglass with a hole in it. It's a pretty low barrier.
Sort of. We dont have sliding windows. Windows tilt in Germany so it's a weird shape you need to close up. Portable ACs come with a mesh cover that works OK but its not as good as a properly sealed window. They're also significantly less efficient and much louder. Midea has released the Porta split a few hears ago which was a game changer for many people. I currently have one cooling the bedroom.
Why is everyone on social media talking about Midea? I never see any other brand mentioned. Is this a coordinated marketing campaign?
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#388Earlier quoted context omitted.
Air to water heat pumps are typically less efficient than air to air. Both will work in cold UK temperatures. However the water is often heated to a higher temperature which can reduce efficiency.
That seems to not hold up when checking. Fx according to https://daikinquebec.net/en/heat-pump/air-vs-water-vs-geothe... Air2air have a cop of 2.5 - 3.2 while air2water it’s 3.0 to 3.5
The main benefit is that air to water systems are compatible with existing central heating systems - but only if the radiators are sized correctly, and often they're not.
If you factor in the need to replace radiators etc, then the ability to act as an air con probably makes air to air the better choice. Now that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants cover air to air as well as air to water, I'd expect them to become much more common in the UK than they have been until now.
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#389Earlier quoted context omitted.
« Heating is absurdly expensive with leaky building so people prioritize insulating. » Nope, heat pumps are cheaper and more efficient. Insulating did not even make a dent in reducing emissions in Germany after years of trying. Whataboutism about cold related deaths doesn’t change anything about the heat related deaths. Did you know the Philippines lose fewer people to heat than Europe, per capita? They have AC. Agai…
I don't think you realize how old buildings work and that majority of people in europe live in apartment buildings often 50+ old and they rent it. Would love to see you convince the landlords to refurbish the building to use expensive heatpumps when gas is already in place. Also heatpumps just like any other heating solution sucks without insulation. It would be better to look at new buildings and you will find out t…
> Would love to see you convince the landlords to refurbish the building to use expensive heatpumps when gas is already in place.
They've been redoing the insulation since new regulation was enforced in France and Germany, it's been years now. So, that kind of thing is doable, except billions have been spent for a dubious result (look it up, Germans heat just as much as before). I am appalled at the complete lack of information on these subjects. For shame.
EDIT: Fact checking myself, the Germans have been reducing their heating, but significantly lower than expected because of a rebound effect (part of the efficiency gain is converted into comfort).
Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning
#390Earlier quoted context omitted.
It seems like a bidirectional heat pump would be a good solution, since the same device can be used to heat the building when it's cold. And a lot of europe (including the mentioned UK and Greece) don't often get cold enough that a heat pump is inefficient.
The uk gets cold enough that a air to water heatpump is a better heating solution.
It isn't as effective, but air to water can be bidirectional. Probably good enough for a couple of times a year or so when there is a heat wave.