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[NinjaFridge]

I'm not in a country hot as balls with the majority of people without AC, but in events of power outages from storms yeah I check on neighbors who are older. It's okay man, I'm not judging you.

No, you just assumed we were all sitting on our asses letting people die.

 

[Choke on the Magic]

No it doesn't have to be, but that's how it started and that's how people are willing to play to game. As for my post, you'll see I was replying to a very specific post from one poster. I worded my reply precisely because of that. If he hadn't generalised all Euros, I wouldn't have generalised all Americans.

I was pretty much doing the same bs. So let's just drop it and carry on. Cool?

 

[NekoFever]

Lawns tend to die if you don't water them in the summer.

Unusual around here because you can usually count on rain showers and more moderate temperatures without more than a couple of days of sustained heat.

 

[Days like these...]

It's not making excuses, it's trying to explain it. If you're really interested you should read the whole thread. Smarter people than me have done a better job already.



Exactly how I felt about you calling people losers and accusing posters here of neglect because of a harmless jab about car transmissions.

Daviyoung posted a link to this https://www.gov.uk/government/public...r-england-2013 and he said everyone ignored it. Apart from the very young and the bed ridden/chronically ill what is there to explain? I never called anyone a loser or brought up cars

 

[Hot Coldman]

so OP, how perfectly did this thread turn out for you, eh

 

[sefton]

Some of us have top isolation though. I can keep the heat out during afternoon without problem.

One afternoon is no problem but after a few weeks without rain, the whole building has heated up to over 80 degrees. Fortunately, I'm fairly heat resistant so I mostly enjoy this kind of summer and go to the library (super strong AC, with 100 degrees outside, you're still freezing after a few hours) to work. It's just sleeping, where it's annoying when temperatures don't drop below 80 anymore.

[adoption of metric system.png]

Europeans favour some modicum of fuel economy over "aahhh gahht maa truk" V8 4L juice chuggers.

For the benefit of Americans, generally speaking Europeans view anyone who has an automatic car as a scrub.

I'm actually European myself, I just think it's weird how one modern technology has seen almost complete adoption in North America and almost none in Europe. With metric and imperial units, it's a matter of what you're used to but having AC seems like a clear advantage over not having AC. People spend money on all kinds of crap around the house but I don't know anyone around here with residential AC or ever heard of anyone seriously considering it.

Some of you are so smug. Go check on some elderly people losers. It's hot outside and with no AC they may need your help.

This thread actually got me worried about my over 90 years old grandfather so I just called his place and it seems to be reasonably cool.

Seriously? Do you really think it's old tech to drive stick? Holy shit.

Again, I just wonder how come that so many people stick

Spoiler

ha

with it when most people are so lazy and shun anything that requires technical expertise, while flocking towards anything that makes their lives easier.

You're saying that global warming isn't something that concerns AC owners, because ACs make global warming? Not only do those not relate, or make sense, but there's a lot of other things that's wrong with that statement.

I'd personally like to see more ACs over here and one might think that would be the logical consequence of hotter and hotter summers. But I don't believe that's going to happen because environmentalism is so strong here and ACs do undeniably use a lot of power.

Why do you need an air conditioner if you have maybe 1 or 2 very hot weeks in non Mediterranean Sea European countries?
Espencially if you live in one of the modern/modernized buildings, with the right building insulation.

It's only interesting for old and weak people.

That's probably the main reason. But with 0.5% and hundreds/thousands of dead for every heat wave, obviously even those who would certainly need AC don't have it. On the other hand, 85% of American homes is probably more than just the South.

 

[Vermillion]

Wow, you guys are taking this way too seriously.

Getting too heated in here.

 

[Coins]

Unusual around here because you can usually count on rain showers and more moderate temperatures without more than a couple of days of sustained heat.

So you just let the lawn die? I don't understand. You see it's going to be hot and dry so you water the lawn. Or purchase an AC unit.

News flash!

It's getting hotter in Europe. Your buildings aren't made for it. Go buy an AC unit! You're going to be using it more.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

I do apologize about the accusations. I do have to say it's more than just comments about transmissions or C vs F. It's the general superiority complex "some" posters try and demonstrate referring to americans as idiots and what not.

Thanks, I get that. This thread was created to stir up these kind of arguments so I was just trying to calm things down. Didn't expect to make you angrier.

Daviyoung posted a link to this https://www.gov.uk/government/public...r-england-2013 and he said everyone ignored it. Apart from the very young and the bed ridden/chronically ill what is there to explain? I never called anyone a loser or brought up cars

lol, never mind dude. Wasn't referring to you about the car\loser stuff. I can't really say more than has been said already, that link doesn't work and I'm not even sure what you're arguing about.

 

[bryanee]

Wow, you guys are taking this way too seriously.

Getting too heated in here.

I see what you did there....

 

[Juravsky]

You don't need AC, you need to know to not be stupid and how to avoid heat stress. Shade, fans, and damp cloths, and drinking water will keep you alive.

Pretty much this. Where I live is kind of common to be at 104 in the shade, at 90 we don't even bother to turn on the AC. People dying in heat waves usually die because they don't know that too much sun/heat can actually be dangerous, so they don't take any precaution.

 

[Days like these...]

Thanks, I get that. This thread was created to stir up these kind of arguments so I was just trying to calm things down. Didn't expect to make you angrier.



lol, never mind dude. Wasn't referring to you about the carloser stuff. I can't really say more than has been said already, that link doesn't work and I'm not even sure what you're arguing about.

Link is broken it was government warning about the heatwave. What im saying (not arguing at all) is with proper measures no able bodied person should be dying when its 30° out like for example the postman from Lincoln

 

[SmartBase]

I've learned during this last year or two that the UK cannot function with a bit of snowfall or with warm weather.

 

[IceCold]

I've learned during this last year or two that the UK cannot function with a bit of snowfall or with warm weather.

You should see them when they come to Southern Europe for vacation. Sunburns galore.

 

[PdotMichael]

That's probably the main reason. But with 0.5% and hundreds/thousands of dead for every heat wave, obviously even those who would certainly need AC don't have it. On the other hand, 85% of American homes is probably more than just the South.

I need a source which proves that more people die because of suddenly heatwaves in Europe than in the USA.

And some stuff are pretty strange:

A 16-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man from King's Lynn were found dead in unrelated incidents in lakes at Bawsey Pits, Norfolk.

A man believed to be a 21-year-old from Shropshire died after getting into difficulties near the confluence of the Rivers Dee and Ceiriog on the Shropshire-north Wales border, and a 40-year-old woman from Saltash died following what police called a "medical episode" while swimming in the sea at Seaton, near Torpoint in eastern Cornwall.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/w...ot-weather-as-high-temperatures-continue.html

How is that stuff AC related?

 

[daviyoung]

I was pretty much doing the same bs. So let's just drop it and carry on. Cool?

Sure. I didn't expect it to get cyclical.

You should see them when they come to Southern Europe for vacation. Sunburns galore.

Mad dogs and Englishmen.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Link is broken it was government warning about the heatwave. What im saying (not arguing at all) is with proper measures no able bodied person should be dying when its 30° out like for example the postman from Lincoln

Oh right. Yeah, definitely. People aren't used to it so they don't take the proper precautions. All I was pointing out earlier is these figures mostly aren't about healthy people. Wasn't trying to make excuses like you said. People should take the warning seriously.

 

[Devolution]

I was hanging out today in 108 degree weather today and i didn't give a fuck. 90? What pussy shit is that?

90°F doesn't even qualify as hot, so those figures seem really problematic. I guess the insulation turns UK houses into ovens?

Lol heat wave, this is nothing, everyone here can't stand a little heat. These past few weeks have been heavenly, if it was regularly like this I would consider not moving in the future,

90F is ~32C. That's really not that hot.

Even the stores and restaurants don't have AC? what sort of 3rd world country is this?

The past 7 days here in Connecticut, it's been between 95 and 100 degrees outside, and there was only ONE death.

UK, why does no one have AC?

Average temperature here is like 90 degrees. So strange that some people don't hydrate themselves properly.

BTW UK-Gaf, do stores lack A/C as well? what about malls, restaurants and movie theaters? If they do, what happens in winter? they turn greater on?

I have read most of this thread, and I still don't get it. I grew up in northern lower Michigan, probably similar summers to the UK, (but colder winters), we didn't have air conditioning, nor did most people I knew, and evey summer we would get some days in the 80s and it did reach the 90s every few years or so.

Hell, I lived in Santa Fe NM from 2005-08, we had summer high temperatures basically from 75-95, and our house didn't have air conditioning, we just opened the windows and used fans. Now the deep south in the US, that is something totally different. The heat plus the humidity I can see as a killer if you don't have air, but somehow people managed to live down here for years before air without massive die offs every summer...

Fuckin weak, man.

Down here in Australia I hosted a LAN party on a 46 degree day without air conditioning. Now, THAT was fucking hot.

Dat weird Euro attitude towards some technologies. Same with driving stick in 2013 ...
And I doubt climate warming is going to change people's opinions about AC because someone would immediately point out the high power usage that causes even more climate warming, that requires even more power, that ... totally vicious cycle.

Throw in some "lol us" "lol uk/euros" posts I know I missed and damn.

 

[Cyber Caesar]

Fire the building inspectors. UK houses are space heaters.

 

[IceCold]

Throw in some "lol us" "lol uk/euros" posts I know I missed and damn.

Now flip the scenario for when Californians bitch that the temperature drops to 12 degrees or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJpNhGUP5Q

 

[Devolution]

Now flip the scenario for when Californians bitch that the temperature drops to 12 degrees or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJpNhGUP5Q

Okay the reporter who is in snow gear at 48 made my day.

 

[weekend_warrior]

My sister likes to call on hot days and remind me she has central air conditioning, Meh, I don't like the heat but I'm not going to die over it.

 

[sefton]

I need a source which proves that more people die because of suddenly heatwaves in Europe than in the USA.

There are some numbers given here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave#Mortality:

Between 1992 and 2001, deaths from excessive heat in the United States numbered 2,190, compared with 880 deaths from floods and 150 from hurricanes.[19] http://web.archive.org/web/20070227...out.com/library/blank/bl_hot_weather_tips.htm

The 1995 Chicago heat wave, one of the worst in US history, led to approximately 600 heat-related deaths over a period of five days.[21] http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=711589

More than 70,000 Europeans died as a result of the 2003 European heat wave.[26] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631069107003770

 

[apesh1t]

Now flip the scenario for when Californians bitch that the temperature drops to 12 degrees or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJpNhGUP5Q

but they're laughing at themselves.....not like they're dying....

 

[PdotMichael]

There are some numbers given here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave#Mortality:

Between 1992 and 2001, deaths from excessive heat in the United States numbered 2,190, compared with 880 deaths from floods and 150 from hurricanes.[19]

The 1995 Chicago heat wave, one of the worst in US history, led to approximately 600 heat-related deaths over a period of five days.[21]

More than 70,000 Europeans died as a result of the 2003 European heat wave.[26] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631069107003770

The article doesn't compare Europe and the USA, though. We don't even know how the USA and the various European countries count deaths from a heat wave.

 

[poppabk]

Has the government put any kind of health/heat warnings for these warm temperatures? Maybe in the newspaper or on television advising citizens to drink water, wear lighter clothing, maybe open a window or seek refuge in the ac for the eldely? We get that you guys arent used to warm temperatures but still people shouldnt be dying because its 30° out.

People die all the time in the US because of the heat. Old people just plain die all the time, just walking up some stairs can be enough to kill someone.

 

[Sadsic]

The article doesn't compare Europe and the USA, though. We doesn't even know how the USA and the various European countries count deaths from a heat wave.

just accept that europe is worse than america jeez

 

[poppabk]

There are some numbers given here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave#Mortality:

Between 1992 and 2001, deaths from excessive heat in the United States numbered 2,190, compared with 880 deaths from floods and 150 from hurricanes.[19] http://web.archive.org/web/20070227...out.com/library/blank/bl_hot_weather_tips.htm

The 1995 Chicago heat wave, one of the worst in US history, led to approximately 600 heat-related deaths over a period of five days.[21] http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=711589

More than 70,000 Europeans died as a result of the 2003 European heat wave.[26] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631069107003770

Those numbers aren't comparable. The European figure is comparing that year to the previous years. It would include deaths from increased swimming, increased drink driving etc, anything that increases in nice weather.

 

[PKrockin]

Throw in some "lol us" "lol uk/euros" posts I know I missed and damn.

Everyone gets a kick out of people not from their area coming over and immediately bitching about weather that really isn't so bad. Hearing Texans or Californians bundle up and complain endlessly when it's a nice 40F is hilarious.

 

[Devolution]

Everyone gets a kick out of people not from their area coming over and immediately bitching about weather that really isn't so bad. Hearing Texans or Californians bundle up and complain endlessly when it's a nice 40F is hilarious.

More often than not I'm cold so I just bring layers. Most of the time I realize it isn't even cold I'm just built weird.

 

[mangochutney]

I've not even put the air con on in my car these past few days. Oh, and it's a 'stick' too.

 

[Shambles]

People die all the time in the US because of the heat. Old people just plain die all the time, just walking up some stairs can be enough to kill someone.

Yeah these stories never mean much to me. There is no clear indication of exactly what caused the deaths, who these people were, other contributing factors, etc. The titles of this thread is even a larger joke as you hardly need AC at that temperature. For all I know even without the heat chances could be that most of those 760 would have passed away anyways.

 

[Steelrain]

You Euros need to build a nest with a canopy of pussy willows and pray that your kings and queens save you from this completely avoidable disaster.

 

[Septimius]

I'm actually European myself, I just think it's weird how one modern technology has seen almost complete adoption in North America and almost none in Europe. With metric and imperial units, it's a matter of what you're used to but having AC seems like a clear advantage over not having AC. People spend money on all kinds of crap around the house but I don't know anyone around here with residential AC or ever heard of anyone seriously considering it.

It's because the countries in question aren't normally so hot that AC is required. It's expensive to get, costs comparatively much to use, so with only needing it a few days a year is not enough to get it. It's too superfluous to get. It'd sort of be like getting a microwave because your mother brings you soup once a year, and you want to heat it in a microwave.

Again, I just wonder how come that so many people stick with it when most people are so lazy and shun anything that requires technical expertise, while flocking towards anything that makes their lives easier.

AT means less control of your car and fewer miles per gallon. I don't know the price difference, but there's a cultural factor, too. Most people have MT cars, so you get your MT license.

I actually considered going for a Tesla as my first car, but I just need the fun manual transmission is, so I have to get a car with it. Clutching, engine braking and torque control is essentially the best thing about driving cars. I've had my fair share of racing simulators, too, and I love manual transmission there, too.

I'd personally like to see more ACs over here and one might think that would be the logical consequence of hotter and hotter summers. But I don't believe that's going to happen because environmentalism is so strong here and ACs do undeniably use a lot of power.

Power itself isn't bad. The pollution that comes from making power is what's bad. There's no emissions from an AC itself, so there's nothing wrong with an AC. Yes, we should conserve power, because we can't make all of it emission free, but this is not what's holding the adaptation rate down. There's simply too little use for it. Europe uses a lot of power for heating, and no one blames us for that. It's not about it. If everyone gets an AC to keep it steady at 22, then it's bad. If everyone got ACs to help with extreme heat days, it'd be good, but that's essentially never. That's why this happens.

Also, you worded the thing you said originally in a very incoherent way, that's why I pointed it out.

That's probably the main reason. But with 0.5% and hundreds/thousands of dead for every heat wave, obviously even those who would certainly need AC don't have it. On the other hand, 85% of American homes is probably more than just the South.

Wait, what's this last sentence? I don't get what you're saying. Again, it's hard to proof all houses in the UK for extreme heat with ACs when it's needed once a blue moon.

 

[Septimius]

Yeah these stories never mean much to me. There is no clear indication of exactly what caused the deaths, who these people were, other contributing factors, etc. The titles of this thread is even a larger joke as you hardly need AC at that temperature. For all I know even without the heat chances could be that most of those 760 would have passed away anyways.

Do you find that you care to figure out what a thread is about, or do you find that you just shape an opinion, then read conforming replies and jump in saying the same trite stuff that's been pointed out several times already?

You Euros need to build a nest with a canopy of pussy willows and pray that your kings and queens save you from this completely avoidable disaster.

This is rich.

 

[WorldStar]

You Euros need to build a nest with a canopy of pussy willows and pray that your kings and queens save you from this completely avoidable disaster.

lol

 

[Jezbollah]

For all I know even without the heat chances could be that most of those 760 would have passed away anyways.

If they didnt, I would want to know their secret of immortality.

 

[Broder Salsa]

Dat weird Euro attitude towards some technologies. Same with driving stick in 2013 ...

 

[H2Yo]

It's a damn shame these people actually died but it seems really odd that 32C would be enough to cause this. I have never had air conditioning in my house, even on a day where it was 48C (now that was awful).

I suppose living in Melbourne means you can never truly adjust to any particular weather since it fluctuates so much.

 

[Kreunt]

It's a damn shame these people actually died but it seems really odd that 32C would be enough to cause this. I have never had air conditioning in my house, even on a day where it was 48C (now that was awful).

I suppose living in Melbourne means you can never truly adjust to any particular weather since it fluctuates so much.

Yeah but this happens to old people in Melbourne every year, It just isn't a big story.

 

[SpoonyBard]

AT means less control of your car and fewer miles per gallon. I don't know the price difference, but there's a cultural factor, too. Most people have MT cars, so you get your MT license.

Some modern automatics have better fuel economy than manuals. The gear shifting is optimized for fuel economy, and it's difficult to achieve the same with manual shifting, especially when diving within a city.

But manual is still better in many ways... it's simpler and cheaper, so the car itself it cheaper, and there's one expensive thing less in the car that can break. And of course if need arises, you can push start a manual car.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

Actually ACs are much unhealthier for the human body than the "heat" itself.
They bomb you nonstop with bacteria and are really bad for your respiratory, skin and especialy eyes.
the (most of the time) tremendous difference between outdoor temperature and indoor temperature is hell for the circulatory system

Sounds like bullshit to me! Let me know when hundreds of people are dying because of the hell for the circulatory system.

 

[PrivateWHudson]

I was just yelling at the kids to go outside and play today. Here in PA it's been in the mid to upper 90's this week, so there was no excuse to sit inside and watch TV when it was 89 with a nice breeze.

 

[KanyeEast]

You can fast all you want, just drink water.

Sorry buddy. We are not allowed to drink or eat during fasting in islam. That's how hardcore we are

 

[Steelrain]

Sorry buddy. We are not allowed to drink or eat during fasting in islam. That's how hardcore we are

Hardcore isn't how I'd describe that but ok.

 

[Boom Boom Pow]

So how did humans survive before comfy homes and air conditioning? Because for thousands of years they had to endure temperatures like these all day every day of the summer.

how do you know ppl weren't dying in the hundreds back in the days?

 

[Boom Boom Pow]

Some modern automatics have better fuel economy than manuals. The gear shifting is optimized for fuel economy, and it's difficult to achieve the same with manual shifting, especially when diving within a city.

But manual is still better in many ways... it's simpler and cheaper, so the car itself it cheaper, and there's one expensive thing less in the car that can break. And of course if need arises, you can push start a manual car.

you can do the same in an automatic. shift to neutral. push to start. i know, i've done it multiple times

 

[sefton]

The article doesn't compare Europe and the USA, though. We don't even know how the USA and the various European countries count deaths from a heat wave.

The 70,000 figure is based on excess mortality compared to a reference frame of the five years before. The Chicago figure is based on excess mortality too. No idea, what the figures in the about.com article are exactly, they just cite "the latest NOAA Weather Service figures".

Those numbers aren't comparable. The European figure is comparing that year to the previous years. It would include deaths from increased swimming, increased drink driving etc, anything that increases in nice weather.

The August mortality crisis caused major distortions
in the deaths’ age and gender structure, which are illustrated
in Fig. 3, using France and Italy as examples.
On 12 August, the share of 65+ deaths increased by
9.5% in France, the share of 75+ deaths increased by
16.5%, the share of 85+ deaths by 26.8% and the share
of 95+ deaths by 46%. These distortions in the deaths’
age structure imply that excess mortality increased as
age rose.

I don't think those age groups are particularly known for the kind of behavior you're describing.

Yeah these stories never mean much to me. There is no clear indication of exactly what caused the deaths, who these people were, other contributing factors, etc. The titles of this thread is even a larger joke as you hardly need AC at that temperature. For all I know even without the heat chances could be that most of those 760 would have passed away anyways.

It may not be the same in terms of lost life years as with hurricane victims but those figures are usually excess mortality so on average those people would not have died that year.

It's because the countries in question aren't normally so hot that AC is required. It's expensive to get, costs comparatively much to use, so with only needing it a few days a year is not enough to get it. It's too superfluous to get. It'd sort of be like getting a microwave because your mother brings you soup once a year, and you want to heat it in a microwave.

Power itself isn't bad. The pollution that comes from making power is what's bad. There's no emissions from an AC itself, so there's nothing wrong with an AC. Yes, we should conserve power, because we can't make all of it emission free, but this is not what's holding the adaptation rate down. There's simply too little use for it. Europe uses a lot of power for heating, and no one blames us for that. It's not about it. If everyone gets an AC to keep it steady at 22, then it's bad. If everyone got ACs to help with extreme heat days, it'd be good, but that's essentially never. That's why this happens.

Also, you worded the thing you said originally in a very incoherent way, that's why I pointed it out.

Yeah, that first post obviously sucked.
But how expensive are ACs? A couple of thousands? With the generally high housing prices in Europe, I can't imagine how adding AC would raise those noticeably. I always heard that the power usage makes them so expensive so if you only need them one month a year, even better.
People buy all kinds of crap that they use once a year like skis or seasonal decoration, yet I still know more people with koi ponds than with ACs. I get people (with money) complaining about how unbearable the heat is every single summer but for some obscure reason, they would never consider getting AC. It just feels like there's some odd kind of anti-AC sentiment.

Wait, what's this last sentence? I don't get what you're saying. Again, it's hard to proof all houses in the UK for extreme heat with ACs when it's needed once a blue moon.

"On the other hand, 85% of American homes is probably more than just the South." was referring to the figure in the OP post (actually 87%):
"Compare that to the United States, where an estimated 87 percent of households have an air-conditioning unit."
Just to show that AC adoption seems to be more related to culture than to what is strictly necessary.
And with those super elaborate health care system, it just seems archaic to have people die of heat.

 

[casabolg]

Well damn, as an American I feel a bit more rugged that I can stand the heat and cold here. Buncha whiny fools elsewhere in the anglosphere.

 

[Blimblim]

But how expensive are ACs? A couple of thousands? With the generally high housing prices in Europe, I can't imagine how adding AC would raise those noticeably. I always heard that the power usage makes them so expensive so if you only need them one month a year, even better.
People buy all kinds of crap that they use once a year like skis or seasonal decoration, yet I still know more people with koi ponds than with ACs. I get people (with money) complaining about how unbearable the heat is every single summer but for some obscure reason, they would never consider getting AC. It just feels like there's some odd kind of anti-AC sentiment.

Here in France installing an AC for a complete house costs quite a lot. And for apartments the issue is where to put the AC outlet, and if you are even allowed to have one considering how ugly and more importantly noisy they are. I have an AC for my apartment, but if I had gone and asked to be allowed to have it installed, it would have been denied. So I went ahead and did it without asking. It cost me 5000 euros for 3 rooms, but it was an easy-ish install so it wasn't too expensive.