all 18 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 11 points 2 months ago

Given the trajectory of this, we'll probably have to start considering home cooling as fundamental to human survivability as home heating.

Luckily, in heat pumps we have efficient ways to cool and heat, and France has relatively cheap and plentiful electricity.

  • source
  • [–] 9 points 2 months ago (7 children)

    There were two mentions of not using fans to save on electricity costs. It looks like the greater Paris area pays an average price of ~€0,10/kWh and standing fans use an average of 40 watts. Are people on such strict budgets that the maximum cost of ~€3/month for running a fan 24/7 is impossible? Otherwise, it sounds like France should make some public service announcements about fan usage.

    All that said, it’s supposed to be 44 degrees this week in France, so I don’t know if a fan is even super relevant, though it could at least be used at night.

  • source
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (5 children)
  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Lukewarm tap water currently.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

    Absolutely. I soak my hands (or feet, depending on whether I need my hands) in little tubs full of cold water until it stops feeling cold when I’m too hot but it’s not awful, and I’ll hop in the shower for a minute or two under just the cold water every couple of hours when it’s really unbearable.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    "Climate inequality"

    Oh god not another new concept🙄

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    It is truly tragic when honest, good citizens need to learn new things as the world refuses to stay the same for them. Hang in there, you'll get through this.

    /s

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    I just heard it for the first time but i already know that it will be disused by some people who then give the blame to industrial countries.

    (Just so you know, i like saving energy and fighting climate change.)

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    when southern Europe is cooler than its northern parts :p Western Iberia is now 21 degrees Celsius :p

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    Get yourself some mylar and staple it to the bottom of the roof in the attic. That will reflect the heat back into the sky. It would work best if your roof was a mirror or anodized aluminum. But mylar doesn't do well out in the open. I found that to be a simple way to help your AC keep up. In my previous California home that trick reduced the attic temperatures from 105F to 90F which is survival. So it's not a silver bullet but it helps quite a bit.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago

    Most french housing doesn't have AC to begin with. My very recent apartment has none, the one I'll be moving to (which is currently being built) won't either. It's only built under the notion that energy is a winter issue, and designed to keep the heat in.

    The start of the heat wave was uneventful for me, but I now restrict my day in a tiny square in front of the portable AC (so much for saving energy by not designing the building with AC in mind...)

  • source
  • parent