Stockholm has some novel ventilation solutions in July.
Posted on 07/23/2015 7:23:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I know, I know … Europeans also believe in the fantasy that they can live in a socialist utopia of sorts and the bill will never come due too. Er, except in Greece, of course.
This “new” outrage, though, is simply the usual Euro “superiority” fantasy. They always have a better/smarter/eco friendlier idea and we New Worlders, well, we’re wasteful, uncouth and unsophisticated barbarians, or something:
Overall, it’s safe to say that Europe thinks America’s love of air-conditioning is actually quite daft. Europeans have wondered about this particular U.S. addiction for a while now: Back in 1992, Cambridge University Prof. Gwyn Prins called America’s love of air-conditioning the country’s “most pervasive and least-noticed epidemic,” according to the Economist. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s getting worse: American demand for air-conditioning has only increased over the past decades.
The U.S. has been the world’s leader in air-conditioning ever since, and it’s not a leadership Americans should necessarily be proud of. According to Stan Cox, a researcher who has spent years studying indoor climate controlling, the United States consumes more energy for air conditioning than any other country. In many parts of the world, a lack in economic development might be to blame for a widespread absence of air-conditioning at the moment. However, that doesn’t explain why even most Europeans ridicule Americans for their love of cooling and lack of heat tolerance.
Well good for them. Because as we recall back in 2003, their “superiority” worked out so well for them, didn’t it?
At least 35,000 people died as a result of the record heatwave that scorched Europe in August 2003, says an environmental think tank.
[…]
The EPI calculated the huge death toll from the eight western European countries with data available. “Since reports are not yet available for all European countries, the total heat death toll for the continent is likely to be substantially larger,” it says in a statement.
France suffered the worst losses, with 14,802 people dying from causes attributable to the blistering heat. This is “more than 19 times the death toll from the SARS epidemic worldwide”, notes the EPI.
Yes, that’s right, air conditioning can save lives. Lots of lives, apparently.
I’ll bet those 35,000+ might have found air conditioning being available to be lifesaving? We certainly lose a few to heat each year, but I’ll be honest, if I’d lost 35,000+ to heat in a single summer, I wouldn’t be smug enough to bring up America’s affection for air conditioning in a negative way.
But then, we’re talking about Europe, aren’t we? The land of very short memories, it seems.
As the almost certainly apocryphal headline in a British newspaper read “Temperature to hit 75F again today - no relief from heat wave in sight.”
And, as late as the 1940’s the British Foreign Office listed Washington DC as a “tropical capital.”
On the other hand, before A/C, Congress used to take a summer-long break, thereby limiting its ability to produce vexatious legislation to only 9 months out of the year.
I’m sure they also think our addiction to soap and water is weird too.
my first trip to scotland was in the 80s. there was a ‘heat wave’ with temps hitting the mid 70s
the news of the day told of people dying from the ‘heat’
i live in FL now. i’ll keep my a/c and scoff at the wilting violets in western europe
It was awful.
No airconditioning whatsoever, and the heat wave lasted for weeks. Temperatures in the triple digits.
I just spent Friday to Tuesday on our boat in Ventura Harbor. Noone there has ac because it is typically not needed. This trip it was 81 and so muggy you couldn’t breathe. If you moved you were wet. All the liveaboards are contemplating buying small window ac’s for their boats now.....just for days like that.
I had to go to Lowe’s and got in there and went...wow it’s cool in here. Think I’ll stay awhile. lol So I did. I wandered up and down the aisles until I was thoroughly cool and dry.
I ordered a small ac unit for our boat. ;)
I have an ominous feeling of foreboding that this could be DELIBERATE.
Think of how much money it would save the state when they don’t have to spend too much to care for their elderly who are going to die soon anyway...
Just their version of "Youth in Asia"
Even worse, a European woman chewed out one of our employees because we like to heat out houses and SHE sleep with no heat.
“How dare you foolish Americans waste the world’s resources by heating your homes”
...this is why our ancestors left!
It’s 95 here, the heat index is 114, the humidity is in the 90s, how stupid would I have to be to forego the A/C? I feel like moving to a meat locker for the summer as it is.
They think toothpaste is stupid too?
And although I've never been there rumor has it that Madrid and Athens get a bit toasty in the summer.
You are absolutely correct. Most of the Europeans live in latitudes farther north than we do down here in Florida. When they get here for a visit, they don’t go out in the midday sun. They stay inside, under air conditioning, at least as much as we do.
I’m pretty certain this is all leading up to,
‘Americans cause global warming because their use of air conditioning puts so much coolant into the air, and Americans’ love of automobiles cause them to use too much gasoline which causes global warming, and Americans eat and raise so much beef which causes global warming, but the irresponsible Americans won’t lift a finger to help the rest of the world by paying their fair share of carbon credits even though they are the main cause of the trouble. (Blah, blah, blah, on and on)
Look out, it’s coming.
Stockholm has some novel ventilation solutions in July.
LOL, St Willis Of Carrier. I need to offer a few iced offerings to him.
That's what you got in the USA.
Next time they put in a call to the Arsenal of Democracy, they can get a busy signal...
I think that if London, Paris or Berlin had a climate similar to say Atlanta, Dallas or Phoenix, they'd be heavily into air conditioners.
They also like to drink their milk and beer warm. Something not right about that.
When that happened, there was a German woman on another forum (a nonpolitical one) who was blaming the U.S. for the heat wave and the death toll. I kid you not. She said Americans caused the heat wave because we use air-conditioning.
She was regarded as very intelligent and well-educated, and the other Americans there agreed with her. So, I pointed out that, the previous summer, in a city close to mine, a great number of elderly and ill people had died because they didn't have A/C during a heat wave, and that's why we need A/C. And I added that "ozone-depleting" gases had long been banned from A/C here in the U.S.
They're brainwashed in Europe to hate us. For the record, I hate using air-conditioning myself. I prefer fresh air, but sometimes A/C is necessary.
“Actually, there’s a reasonably sound argument for the modern form of monarchy. The monarch provides a focus for the affections of the populace so that the selection of a president or prime minister,,,,”
Ok, God has told me I am your new King. After all, Kings aren’t chosen by the people ya know? Now, you must love me, give me a very small slice of governmental influence, refer to me as the head of state, and allow me a very comfortable living.
It’s good to be the king. And remember, God himself has placed me here. He told me so.
King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well, I didn’t vote for you.
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Woman: Well how’d you become king then?
[Angelic music plays... ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin’ in ponds distributin’ swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.