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Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

lse.ac.uk

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Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#461

Post by TremendousJudge »

GFischer wrote: post #437
jesse_faden wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dew point is a much better measure of the oppressive, muggy, sweltering feeling than humidity. The dew point in Australia ranges in the 5ºc - 15ºc range at which 30ºc after sunset feels vastly different, way cooler than South East Asia where the dew point is constantly above 24ºc.

TIL. I see that in my country (Uruguay) the Dew point in summer is usually above 20ºc and some peaks above 26ºc (when temperature is above 30ºc with high humidity), no wonder it feels hot and oppressive (it's always humid, too).

There are plenty of humid, warm cities in the world. Not so many humid, cold cities. It's easy to check, usually the (English) wikipedia article of a city will have a Climate table with month-by-month data. On the winter months, Montevideo gets around 80% average humidity. I challenge you to look for cities that get as cold, but are more humid than Montevideo in the winter. You can find some (I think Auckland is one), but they are very rare.

Greetings from the Shoelace neighborhood, Montevideo

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#462

Post by tgsovlerkhgsel »

eudamoniac wrote: post #447
tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get rage when I hear those "5 clever tips to stay cool without A/C". Many buildings already have shades, but please tell me more how those shades and "properly ventilating during the night" (aka not getting sleep half the night due to outside noise) will keep my apartment at a livable temperature when the air temperature outside never drops below 23 degrees for more than an hour. You can't effectively remove the he…

23C is downright frigid where I'm concerned. You'll be fine

I think you missed the point - when the outside temperature doesn't go below 23, you can't really get the inside temperature below 26 or so, because as the difference gets smaller, your ability to remove heat disappears.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#463

Post by anthk »

boc wrote: post #30
anthk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spain's continental climate has both subzero Winters and scorching Summers.

And they had 101 people die of heat-related issues last month. [1] 3,832 Spaniards died in 2025 alone from heat. In 2022, 4,789 died, the all-time high. The entire United States had 2,325 heat-related deaths in 2023, which is the all-time high. Do the math (US pop 340M vs Spain 49M) and it gets really ugly. [1] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/spain-records-h...

Spain has far more elder people than the US.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#464

Post by eudamoniac »

fellowmartian wrote: post #456
eudamoniac wrote: post #447

Earlier quoted context omitted.

23C is downright frigid where I'm concerned. You'll be fine

It is scientifically proven cognitive performance starts falling above 22C, but feel free to continue your baseless moralizing.

The vast majority of the world lives in summers above 22C and they are pretty much fine. It's not moralizing, it's just living on this planet

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#465

Post by eudamoniac »

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #462
eudamoniac wrote: post #447

Earlier quoted context omitted.

23C is downright frigid where I'm concerned. You'll be fine

I think you missed the point - when the outside temperature doesn't go below 23, you can't really get the inside temperature below 26 or so, because as the difference gets smaller, your ability to remove heat disappears.

I did miss the point, but also it is currently 43C outside and I keep my house at 26C to stay comfortable. Comfort is just what you train yourself to be accustomed to

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#466

Post by deliciousturkey »

ianmarcinkowski wrote: post #432
crote wrote: post #178

Earlier 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…

Such a scold-y attitude. Window air conditioning units work in any fully-openable window. They are $150CAD. Portable air conditioners work in almost every configuration of openable window. They are $250-500CAD. It does take time, but it MOSTLY takes a shipment of small units to local retailers for normal lower-and-middle-class people to buy for the price of a month's worth of beer. Canada's economy is much smaller th…

Window AC's don't really work with the styles of windows that are common here (at least in Finland). The windows typically swivel from the side, with multiple planes opening separately. They don't open vertically like in the US. This is also why window AC units are not sold here.

But getting a portable AC unit is relatively simple, they definitely don't need "re-engineering the environment". Sadly most portable AC's here are single-hose units which are not great. They are cheap though with prices similar to yours, cheapest at around €200. Mini-split systems are very common though as a retrofit: On apartments you can almost always put the outside unit on the balcony.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#467

Post by asdff »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #416
asdff wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need an external unit. Window AC (including casement sized) exists as well as portable AC.

Most European windows open sideways. Scientists are stumped with not solution.

That doesn't matter for portable AC. Most people build a plexiglass or foamboard plug for the open window. Some products are sold already set up like this. If you can fit a casement AC that also probably doesn't matter. You can probably remove the window too I'm guessing.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#468

Post by asdff »

ajmurmann wrote: post #430
asdff wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a swing out window in the US. Fun cranking the lever.

Oh, I have two tiny one of those in my bathroom in the US. Is yours full-sized? I've never seen once with a crank in Germany.

Yeah it is huge. Maybe 2.5' square. Screen on the inside as it opens out.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#469

Post by asdff »

simplyinfinity wrote: post #360
asdff wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you can open a window at all you can run a portable AC unit. Even just 3-4 inches is enough.

European windows open sideways not up and down. So we can't just stick an ac unit on the window.

You don't stick a portable AC unit in the window. The unit sits inside. You just run vent hoses out the window for the compressor.

Opening sideways also shouldn't matter for a casement AC unit.

Re: Extreme Heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat warning

#470

Post by asdff »

Arodex wrote: post #366
asdff wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you can open a window at all you can run a portable AC unit. Even just 3-4 inches is enough.

That's a perfectly good way to waste kW of energy every day and make the heat outside worse.

Sure beats heat stroke and death.
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