Government mandated thermostat settings

[LuvOrlando]

Just read today that 750 have died in Europe so far due to the heatwave. This could make that number go much higher.

Before I had autoimmune issues I used to wonder why the news used to say to check on the elderly and unwell, I was also confused by my grandma wearing a sweater in the summer, now I know. Babies, little kids and pets too, although we are mostly aware to intervene with them. Our bodies can behave in strange ways and they don't always give us an accurate report of what's happening.

I was just thinking how it would be useful to have a room thermometer sound an alarm if it goes over a particular temperature because there are times I go way too long if I am alone. I looked and can see there are ones for restaurants, even bluetooth so it might be a good idea to help elderly family members, little kids areas or even a pet.

 

[Kimkimba]

We were thinking about visiting Europe in the next year or two. Now I know I can’t go in the summer.

We keep the AC at 69. I’m still hot (ha) well into my fifties.

We keep the heat around 63. We used to keep it colder when we had oil heat and were poorer. We converted to central air (all electric) and now both winter and summer bills are cheaper. We used to have window AC units which were more expensive to run.

 

[disney212]

Funny that you mention Heidelberg. Your story is almost identical to mine - I lived in Heidelberg a few years ago during a heat wave and it was miserable. I had to sleep on the floor of my apartment with a portable fan next to me most nights as my apartment didn't have AC. No elevator in my building either and the laundry room was in a cellar of an adjacent building that was hotter than the surface of the sun. I was studying at the university and none of the university buildings had AC either.

I joke that I lived in Germany but in a place that got hot with almost 0 snow. The only relief in summer was when rain clouds from the alps would give us a cool shower. I remember it feeling so weird to drop 20 degrees in 5 minutes. We didn't have screens in the windows either. I worked in an office that required professional dress and I remember sweating in my suit while trying to work. The men would complain that we could wear dresses but my office required stocking with skirts so it was no better. I was the queen of pant suits and sleeveless shells. Did you no o to Heidelberg university?

 

[Moliphino]

I joke that I lived in Germany but in a place that got hot with almost 0 snow. The only relief in summer was when rain clouds from the alps would give us a cool shower. I remember it feeling so weird to drop 20 degrees in 5 minutes. We didn't have screens in the windows either. I worked in an office that required professional dress and I remember sweating in my suit while trying to work. The men would complain that we could wear dresses but my office required stocking with skirts so it was no better. I was the queen of pant suits and sleeveless shells. Did you no o to Heidelberg university?

That is one I just can't wrap my head around. What do they have against screens in Europe? I did a summer abroad in France and had to turn all my lights off at night when I was on my computer or be overrun by bugs coming in my room.

 

[disney212]

That is one I just can't wrap my head around. What do they have against screens in Europe? I did a summer abroad in France and had to turn all my lights off at night when I was on my computer or be overrun by bugs coming in my room.

I thought it was weird too! No clue.

 

[Karin1984]

I thought it was weird too! No clue.

Why would we need a screen when we have a curtain?

Every country has its problems.

Usually every summer we get here in Europe news items about the US having power outages and blackouts because of the excessive use of AC.

I do think it is a little short sighted to say 'oh, now I cant visit Europe', don't you pack for the place you are visiting? You dont go to Alaska in winter in your swimsuit. Most people are capable of adapting after a day or two to whatever weather if you packed for it and use the local strategies.

 

[Skippy918]

80 degree inside temp is still warm. I have a smart thermostat and in the afternoon, to save energy, my setpoint will go to 80. It’s warm. I can’t imagine that high of a temp in a restaurant where the kitchen gets really hot.

 

[Moliphino]

Why would we need a screen when we have a curtain?

But curtains block airflow and still let bugs in.

 

[Sinder]

Why would we need a screen when we have a curtain?

Every country has its problems.

Usually every summer we get here in Europe news items about the US having power outages and blackouts because of the excessive use of AC.

I do think it is a little short sighted to say 'oh, now I cant visit Europe', don't you pack for the place you are visiting? You dont go to Alaska in winter in your swimsuit. Most people are capable of adapting after a day or two to whatever weather if you packed for it and use the local strategies.

Curtains don’t keep out bugs
I don’t think many people choose to go to Alaska in the winter either

Personally I don’t think I’d enjoy my vacation time during unbearable heat. I adapt at home by staying in the AC so if that’s not available somewhere then that destination isn’t really an option for me during the hottest months of the year. It’s not really a hard concept to understand

 

[DeeBee3]

Why would we need a screen when we have a curtain?

Every country has its problems.

Usually every summer we get here in Europe news items about the US having power outages and blackouts because of the excessive use of AC.

I do think it is a little short sighted to say 'oh, now I cant visit Europe', don't you pack for the place you are visiting? You dont go to Alaska in winter in your swimsuit. Most people are capable of adapting after a day or two to whatever weather if you packed for it and use the local strategies.

There are very few places in the US that have power outages due to AC. Yes, Texas has had them and sometimes California, but most of that is due to inefficiencies in the power companies' management of their equipment. The infrastructure in this country is in poor shape and it shouldn't be.

If there were no screens here during summer/spring/fall, I would be eaten alive by mosquitoes. Not pleasant and also disease-ridden.

 

[Karin1984]

It is because I do not see the big deal. A bug can be killed or ignored. We do not have the same mosquitos here as you have in the US, probably. It is probably also a different attitude, we do not try to remove everything that could possibly harm you in live. Like bike helmets in the Netherlands, as in we do not wear them

Also no two heats are the same. A heatwave in the Netherlands is different than a heatwave in France, which is different from Spain, which different from Florida heat.

 

[Karin1984]

There are very few places in the US that have power outages due to AC. Yes, Texas has had them and sometimes California, but most of that is due to inefficiencies in the power companies' management of their equipment. The infrastructure in this country is in poor shape and it shouldn't be.

I assumed it was only small parts but how the news works here, if one state in the US has a problem, it is brought like the entire country has a problem.

 

[kdonnel]

I do think it is a little short sighted to say 'oh, now I cant visit Europe', don't you pack for the place you are visiting? You dont go to Alaska in winter in your swimsuit. Most people are capable of adapting after a day or two to whatever weather if you packed for it and use the local strategies.

Everyone draws the line differently when it comes to deciding if a place is worth their vacation dollars.

For me, comfort at night is a very important factor. A hotel room at 80+ at night means that I will seek out somewhere else to spend my vacation dollars.

 

[DeeBee3]

I assumed it was only small parts but how the news works here, if one state in the US has a problem, it is brought like the entire country has a problem.

Same on my end, I only know about Europe from big news coverage or some of my independent news sources. So, it's easy to generalize. However, here in the US we have an extreme infrastructure problem and that needs to be solved ASAP.

 

[mikalkwin]

Hotels, shopping malls, restaurants etc all have AC in touristic places. Don't be worried about traveling in Europe in the summer because most of private homes don't have (& frankly don't need) A/C.

 

[Moliphino]

It is because I do not see the big deal. A bug can be killed or ignored. We do not have the same mosquitos here as you have in the US, probably. It is probably also a different attitude, we do not try to remove everything that could possibly harm you in live. Like bike helmets in the Netherlands, as in we do not wear them

Also no two heats are the same. A heatwave in the Netherlands is different than a heatwave in France, which is different from Spain, which different from Florida heat.

I'm not worried about bugs harming me, I just don't want them in my house.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I joke that I lived in Germany but in a place that got hot with almost 0 snow. The only relief in summer was when rain clouds from the alps would give us a cool shower. I remember it feeling so weird to drop 20 degrees in 5 minutes. We didn't have screens in the windows either. I worked in an office that required professional dress and I remember sweating in my suit while trying to work. The men would complain that we could wear dresses but my office required stocking with skirts so it was no better. I was the queen of pant suits and sleeveless shells. Did you no o to Heidelberg university?

I had both extremes as during December/January we got a lot of snow. I remember having to wait for the public bus while being pelted by snow (the stop wasn't covered) lol. I don't think my apartment had screen windows either but they did have a curtain like Karin said in their comment. And yes I did : ) studied there for almost 2 years.

Hotels, shopping malls, restaurants etc all have AC in touristic places. Don't be worried about traveling in Europe in the summer because most of private homes don't have (& frankly don't need) A/C.

I agree with this. Heidelberg is a popular stop for Rhine river cruises so a lot of the American shops/restaurants such as Starbucks, Mcdonalds and Subway had AC along with the major department store. Smaller local stores however did not have AC.

 

[Minnesota!]

Not super thrilled with the govt having to step in on everything, but those temps don't seem bad for the majority..

 

[Sinder]

It is because I do not see the big deal. A bug can be killed or ignored. We do not have the same mosquitos here as you have in the US, probably. It is probably also a different attitude, we do not try to remove everything that could possibly harm you in live. Like bike helmets in the Netherlands, as in we do not wear them

Also no two heats are the same. A heatwave in the Netherlands is different than a heatwave in France, which is different from Spain, which different from Florida heat.

Sure A bug, but 100 arent easily ignored. And as a pp mentioned mosquitos here carry diseases some of them very serious. Besides I’ve got 2 cats, they’d destroy my home chasing all the bugs that come in LOL
I’ve got no problem with people who can ignore or deal with bugs or heat, that is great for you. I’m more of the mind that if there’s an easy way to not have to deal with that stuff why wouldn’t you take advantage? That is the beauty of living in an advanced civilization lol
Unless you somehow think your ability to deal with it makes you superior than those people who could but just don’t want too Ok if you want to be eaten alive by bugs and hot and sweaty to prove you are better than the rest of us go right ahead

I’ve never worn a bike helmet in my almost 50 years of being on this earth.

 

[Karin1984]

I don't feel more superior than most Americans feel superior over the rest of the world so let's call it even.

Bugs here are not the same. I am sitting here, working from home, the entire day from 8am to 11pm with all windows open, no screens and I do not have bugs in my house. On top of it, I live close to a lake.
It rarily happens that mosquitos here carry diseases, you have to go much further south near the Mediterean seas.

It is like the discussion about whether or not you should constantly clean your kid when it gets dirty, dirt builds up your immune system. Some people are for it, others against it.
In Europe a lot are of the opinion that you have to work with the environment, not try to conquer it.

For things that rarily happen you do not need to a yearlong adjustment.