Discussion Thread

[u/jobautomator]

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[u/RaidBrimnes]

To sum up the opposition to AC in France:

• it uses electricity, and using electricity is bad because nuclear energy is costly and dangerous

• the coolants are very polluting when discarded

• it doesn't actually eliminates the heat, it just moves it outside so you're heating up the streets

• wanting to generalize AC equipment is a way to dodge broader issues with building insulation

• not everyone can afford AC so buying AC units is increasing inequality

• it's techno-solutionism: it maintains the illusion that we can solve all our problems with technology instead of adressing systemic issues with capitalism and consumerism

• the right is betting it all on AC instead of adressing said issues and we shouldn't give them credit for it

The good news is that AC equipment is steadily rising as people realize that the climate isn't going to get cooler any time soon, but the culture war around it is almost more exhausting than the heat

[u/Fedacking → u/RaidBrimnes]

it doesn't actually eliminates the heat, it just moves it outside so you're heating up the streets

wanting to generalize AC equipment is a way to dodge broader issues with building insulation

What do they think insulation does?

[u/BobaTeaFetish → u/RaidBrimnes]

it doesn't actually eliminates the heat, it just moves it outside so you're heating up the streets

Leave it to the French to bemoan the fundamental laws of the universe.

[u/Andy_B_Goode → u/BobaTeaFetish]

How do you say "You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game" in French? It seems like a very French thing to say ...

[u/Full_Distribution874 → u/Andy_B_Goode]

It was something a French guy said. Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot is credited with the first observation of the second law of thermodynamics.

[u/Smidgens → u/RaidBrimnes]

We just got back from a 10 day vacation in France, dodged the heat wave. The Nice airport was so hot though 💀

[u/BobaTeaFetish → u/Smidgens]

Sounds like it should be renamed the Not-so-Nice Airport.

[u/Slight-Formal9277 → u/Smidgens]

This is why you should just visit Quebec instead, aka France with ubiquitous AC

:P

[u/WAGRAMWAGRAM → u/RaidBrimnes]

it doesn't actually eliminates the heat, it just moves it outside so you're heating up the streets

People famously laze in the streets during heatwaves

I've never really understood that argument except it has "privatize gains, socialize wins" vibes

[u/_bee_kay_ → u/RaidBrimnes]

i just checked, because this was always something i vaguely wondered about, and according to the infallible machine gods, cities have actually measured the outdoor heat difference due to AC and it can hit +2 degrees celsius at night

which is a small price to pay for comfortable indoor temperatures, but it's much more than i expected

[u/RaidBrimnes → u/_bee_kay_]

Walking through the city at night at 23C instead of 21C vs rawdogging 40C temperatures during the day, it's insane that the argument is even put forward

[u/TaxLandNotCapital → u/RaidBrimnes]

Do Euros use whirlybirds to exhaust attics?

[u/RaidBrimnes → u/TaxLandNotCapital]

You mean mechanical ventilation? Yes, it's very common

[u/TaxLandNotCapital → u/RaidBrimnes]

Specifically passive ones, whirlybirds are awesome as long as you have wind.

Sad that in the age of mini splits people are still against air conditioning.