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That’s not whataboutism, because people have to live somewhere. Either you live where it’s cold and use energy to heat your home, or you live somewhere hot and

That’s not whataboutism, because people have to live somewhere. Either you live where it’s cold and use energy to heat your home, or you live somewhere hot and use AC. There are of course temperate areas that require neither, and they’re typically very expensive because they’re temperate.

rdiddly 7y ago
It is precisely whataboutism, i.e. "What about Europe?" Well, we're not talking about Europe when we say "Americans' Air Conditioning Habit Is Eco-Friendly" are we? Maybe if they had titled it "Air Conditioning America is Cheaper Than Heating Europe" (to match what the article is saying) you could say I didn't have a case. That would be a more modest and defensible (yet still unimpressive) claim. I don't see that; "I see America's AC habit is eco-friendly because Europe."
lm28469 7y ago
Sure, but do Americans really need to cool down entire buildings by 10c+ ? I lived in SF and LA, both my flats didn't have AC, I was perfectly fine. It's true that I actually had to bring extra cloth to my uni/office because it was insanely cold. I'm in Berlin now and I don't use a/c nor heating at all because buildings are properly insulated. I open the window during summer nights and throw in an extra blanket during winter.
- village-idiot 7y ago
  You’re describing the temperate areas of America that are insanely expensive. You don’t need to cool a home in a coastal CA town, but you also need to cough up $3k+ a month to live there. If you live in the south you absolutely want to cool your home by 10c, and it might be a requirement to not die.
  - lm28469 7y ago
    > You’re describing the temperate areas of America Yeah that was part of my point, these places really don't require much a/c yet in the summer they're on full blast.
    - village-idiot 7y ago
      That’s not been my experience in LA. Most buildings I visit are just ventilated to the outside. Note: I don’t live in the valley.

rdiddly 7y ago

It is precisely whataboutism, i.e. "What about Europe?" Well, we're not talking about Europe when we say "Americans' Air Conditioning Habit Is Eco-Friendly" are we? Maybe if they had titled it "Air Conditioning America is Cheaper Than Heating Europe" (to match what the article is saying) you could say I didn't have a case. That would be a more modest and defensible (yet still unimpressive) claim. I don't see that; "I see America's AC habit is eco-friendly because Europe."

lm28469 7y ago

Sure, but do Americans really need to cool down entire buildings by 10c+ ? I lived in SF and LA, both my flats didn't have AC, I was perfectly fine. It's true that I actually had to bring extra cloth to my uni/office because it was insanely cold. I'm in Berlin now and I don't use a/c nor heating at all because buildings are properly insulated. I open the window during summer nights and throw in an extra blanket during winter.

village-idiot 7y ago
You’re describing the temperate areas of America that are insanely expensive. You don’t need to cool a home in a coastal CA town, but you also need to cough up $3k+ a month to live there. If you live in the south you absolutely want to cool your home by 10c, and it might be a requirement to not die.
- lm28469 7y ago
  > You’re describing the temperate areas of America Yeah that was part of my point, these places really don't require much a/c yet in the summer they're on full blast.
  - village-idiot 7y ago
    That’s not been my experience in LA. Most buildings I visit are just ventilated to the outside. Note: I don’t live in the valley.