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Insulation helps with both staying warm and cool, though. After all, a big foam beer cooler is just a hollow box of insulation. I think for a lot of Dutch hous

Insulation helps with both staying warm and cool, though. After all, a big foam beer cooler is just a hollow box of insulation. I think for a lot of Dutch houses the real issue is draftiness. No amount of insulation fixes that. Hell, the windows have required vents that can't really be closed properly installed per code. I thought the previous owners were quirky but then noticed _all_ the houses have these weird vents at the top of some windows.

anon48293 1mo ago
Yep. Forced to insulate but also have ventilation which undoes the isolation. Also isolation is great unless you open a window xD
- teekert 1mo ago
  Yes but... check the CO2 levels when you close the vents, and watch the water flow from your windows, and see the mold grow on the north wall. Also, isolation keeps out the heat... Until it is inside, then it keeps it there. I agree it makes air condition more economical, but not many people have them (yet, it's booming).
  - CalRobert 1mo ago
    True, if your house is actually hotter than outdoor temps (so in the evening if your house was roasting all day). Awnings and window shades are really important here. It's insane we don't have every south facing window with an exterior cover.
    - teekert 1mo ago
      It wasn't that insane when our summer nights were 24 degrees C instead of 29, what a difference that makes.
jochem9 1mo ago
Modern-ish houses have mechanical ventilation, then you don't need vents. Old houses don't, so you need to get ventilate the passive way.
ZeroGravitas 1mo ago
Part of the reason for the ventilation requirements is due to burning fossil fuels in the home for heat and cooking. You can ventilate a little less when you're generating less pollution in the home. Some ventilation is still a good idea though.
- teekert 1mo ago
  "Some ventilation is still a good idea though." I think a CO2 meter is an excellent idea, imho it is a good proxy for "air freshness", so also small particles etc. This year I want to try to ventilated more based on CO2 (so close the vents until CO2 becomes unacceptable) and monitor gas use (hooray for Home Assistant).
  - lostmsu 1mo ago
    There's been research showing that high "acceptable" CO2 causes drop in cognitive abilities.

anon48293 1mo ago

Yep. Forced to insulate but also have ventilation which undoes the isolation. Also isolation is great unless you open a window xD

teekert 1mo ago
Yes but... check the CO2 levels when you close the vents, and watch the water flow from your windows, and see the mold grow on the north wall. Also, isolation keeps out the heat... Until it is inside, then it keeps it there. I agree it makes air condition more economical, but not many people have them (yet, it's booming).
- CalRobert 1mo ago
  True, if your house is actually hotter than outdoor temps (so in the evening if your house was roasting all day). Awnings and window shades are really important here. It's insane we don't have every south facing window with an exterior cover.
  - teekert 1mo ago
    It wasn't that insane when our summer nights were 24 degrees C instead of 29, what a difference that makes.

jochem9 1mo ago

Modern-ish houses have mechanical ventilation, then you don't need vents. Old houses don't, so you need to get ventilate the passive way.

ZeroGravitas 1mo ago

Part of the reason for the ventilation requirements is due to burning fossil fuels in the home for heat and cooking. You can ventilate a little less when you're generating less pollution in the home. Some ventilation is still a good idea though.

teekert 1mo ago
"Some ventilation is still a good idea though." I think a CO2 meter is an excellent idea, imho it is a good proxy for "air freshness", so also small particles etc. This year I want to try to ventilated more based on CO2 (so close the vents until CO2 becomes unacceptable) and monitor gas use (hooray for Home Assistant).
- lostmsu 1mo ago
  There's been research showing that high "acceptable" CO2 causes drop in cognitive abilities.