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> I go to an office and spend the same amount of time in it in the winter and in the summer. Employees at meatpacking plants and Starbucks baristas don't get to

> I go to an office and spend the same amount of time in it in the winter and in the summer. Employees at meatpacking plants and Starbucks baristas don't get to work outside in the summertime. Children still go to school, their school days are just as long, and they don't have classes outside even if the weather allows it. You still have to walk the dog, whether it's summer or winter. This is very different in my case (France). In the summer, windows are often open, which suffice to make a big difference I believe, work and home. Never in winter. In summer, half or our work meals are eaten outside or in well ventilated restaurants. Winter -> at most you walk fast 2 minutes to get in a hot building again. Social activites are all closed rooms in winter.

legerdemain 6y ago
Ah! What a fascinating world. The parts of the US that I am familiar with make extremely widespread use of indoor climate control. Many buildings, such as offices and schools, have windows that barely open or don't open at all. And even if the weather permits you to eat outdoors, there usually isn't enough public space where you could do it comfortably and safely. I guess you could drive to a restaurant and then eat in your car with the windows rolled down.
- graeme 6y ago
  Notably the US had high summer covid cases in the AC belt, in contrast to the northeast and also in contrast to canada and europe, where hermetically sealed environments are less common. I’d be curious to know what flu and cold season is like in the south. There may also be seasonal changes to hvac systems in milder climates. They all have varying degrees of recirculation vs bringing in outside air. If you are running heavy ac or heavy heating, it costs more to bring in outside air. So there may be seasonal variations in recirculation settings even within the same sealed environment. I’m less confident on this point though as I don’t know hvac’s very well and they are supposed to filter viruses.

legerdemain 6y ago

Ah! What a fascinating world. The parts of the US that I am familiar with make extremely widespread use of indoor climate control. Many buildings, such as offices and schools, have windows that barely open or don't open at all. And even if the weather permits you to eat outdoors, there usually isn't enough public space where you could do it comfortably and safely. I guess you could drive to a restaurant and then eat in your car with the windows rolled down.

graeme 6y ago
Notably the US had high summer covid cases in the AC belt, in contrast to the northeast and also in contrast to canada and europe, where hermetically sealed environments are less common. I’d be curious to know what flu and cold season is like in the south. There may also be seasonal changes to hvac systems in milder climates. They all have varying degrees of recirculation vs bringing in outside air. If you are running heavy ac or heavy heating, it costs more to bring in outside air. So there may be seasonal variations in recirculation settings even within the same sealed environment. I’m less confident on this point though as I don’t know hvac’s very well and they are supposed to filter viruses.