a cultural question...

[ratcreature]

I've noticed several times references in fiction about people airing out their house once it got warmer that made it sound as if Americans don't open their windows in winter to let fresh air in. Like as if they don't air their house if it's freezing outside.

Is that true? Is it a central air conditioning thing where you don't really need windows to get fresh air, and shouldn't disrupt climate control or something like that? Because otherwise I can't imagine not to open my windows at least twice a day for a little while. Admittedly it's rarely extremely cold here, but this winter we had days when the daytime high was below -10°C and I still aired out my place briefly.

Here you are even required to do so in rental agreements because otherwise you get problems with moisture buildup and such.

Comments

[sholio]

Rarely. My dorm actually had a rule where we weren't allowed to open our windows when it was below freezing because it supposedly raised heating costs (which really sucked for people on the top floors, because those floors were stuffy and hot while the ground floor was barely comfortable).

I occasionally open mine in winter but usually just for things like letting out smoke if I accidentally let something burn in the kitchen, or cooling down the room if it gets too hot, and not very often otherwise; I guess, like madripoor-rose said, I think of it as something that would be inefficient because of letting heat out. It's so interesting to me that it's such a common thing there!

[ratcreature]

Energy efficiency is very much a priority here, like there are rules about insulation, government support to insulate older houses and upgrade heating systems and so on, and of course fossil fuels are taxed increasingly to comply with the climate goals and such. They teach you in school how to air out your place efficiently, like don't leave the window open a little for a long time but open wide briefly etc. I honestly don't know anyone who doesn't let air in in winter. Not doing that is thought to be very unhealthy for the indoor climate and air quality. Like you are basically told that you'd get sick without enough fresh air indoors. I'm still kind of astonished that Americans might keep their windows closed for months. I never imagined that.

[sheron]

Wow, so don't ask me how I tripped over this post, but hi! Random sholio encounter!

(i think it was via some post-IW browser trip, ratcreature, sorry to barge in)

But... this is SO deeply weird to me. I mean, I know it's true, because I'm constantly having to figure out if hotels I'm staying at will let me open windows or not, because sometimes they don't and I cannot breathe. But just... I always have my window open, 365 days a year. It's an apartment though. I guess if it gets to -20C (-4F) or lower I might consider shutting the bedroom window at night and getting my air through the open door/living room window, but those days are rare.

So. Just a random culture clash moment. I can't deal with air-less rooms. Now you know!