☀️🌡️We Need Your Help - Share Your Summer Experience! The Cost of Summer Heatwaves ☀️🌡️

@WhatThe

I never read about your outbursts before but I can get that, especially the bit about it being caused by humans!! I think with autism we often struggle with uncertainty, even if certainty means ruling out the better outcomes rather than ruling out the bad ones

I can kinda relate with triggers, like it's always stuff most people don't get, but I'm fine with "bad" stuff. I came out of visiting my granny, she is in a very very bad way physically and is bed-bound to what will probably be her deathbed…but on the way to the car some teenagers looked at me and laughed (probably not even at me), and that set me into a spiral of bad thinking which ended in distress!!

@WhatThe

I love that attitude, I hope that doesn't sound patronising, just it's refreshing in a world where many people use their condition as an excuse. I think there's a big difference between an excuse and an explanation, if that makes sense? Like you I often feel I need to take responsibility for my actions, even if not entirely in my control. My family know me well enough not to define me by them but strangers wouldn't I guess. 😊

Hey,

I have very low Estrogen as a Man which causes hot flushes and excessive sweating.

Life has been hell for a few months whilst I am in a hotel, top floor, no ventilation or air con and sat on top of industrial hot water tanks - My room reached 32c at 8pm and would go up to 36c by 10pm.

I have hated it, heat exhaustion and severe swelling/edema of my feet, always thirsty, headaches, joint aches.

So, quick checks and I think it will be hard to know changes.

But for me, I cannot wait for Air Con to be normalised, as our work output, mood, stress, concetration, EVERYTHING degrades. and tensions can rise.

When we do see more new builds, they will have air con, maybe just the lounge and a bedroom or two, and we won't need it often, besides climate change. And here's hoping better eco and cost effective devices.

But, on a smaller scale, you can get a picture of the TRUE COST. Lets take a month long heatwave, 20c by 11am, 27c by mid afternoon and nights with no breeze around 26c.
- Every single fan will be on, they don't use as much as heating or air con, but its a continual extra cost.
- Heating bills are slashed, but a lot of people get confused with what to do with hot water.
- Showers are colder, but will be 2-3x more
- Washing clothes will be at least double due to work wear all getting 1 day, evening wear, any gym or activity or weekend clothing. More washes will happen.
- Fridges are made colder, more water or other drinks used, a whole change in diet as a hot steaming pie is just a no, so typicallu as work pack ups can be forgotten or mush, convenience costs, especially my £3.60 daily, pre cut, chilled warermelon habit.
- Everything is nearly less effciieient at higher temps, plus more cooling is needed, to stop the increase in repairs, especiially on older cars - Which are stuck in traffic more with air con right up using more fuel and eventual regassing.
- More shopping due to window shopping, it's get in and cool down in big stores
- Travel delays across all types, deformation of tracks, tarmac melting, walking being too hot, buses have no air con.
- A lot of money can be spent during notmal food shops, especially at Lidl/Aldi and Superstores as all the POS displays will be battery powered fans, USB fans, summer hats, cooling mist spray, bug guards, chilled appealling offers on booze, more fans, and now some portable air con units which are not at the best x section of eco and eco.
- It does mean there can be more fun in the sun instead of paying to do things….But, for anyone with kids, a near new wardrobe, babies going through nappies the same, but they are changed a lot quicker even if its a, excuse me, wet fart.
- Essential sun lotion, more skin products, hair, dry skin, aches, and of course allergies.
- Uber usage gets to unrealistic levels of demand
- London underground is unbearable
- I dont have stats with me, but Id care to guess productivity goes down for anyone with heat issues at work
- With 18.5c being the average ideal temp to sleep in, everyone gets it rough, especially if you keep waking up to wee due to all the water retention.
- People are loose with their money and tend to splurge if we doi;t know we have some good weather staying
- A lot of house jobs can be done which is great, but it can also mean:
1. Hose Pipe is ruined
2. We didn't clean the tent out after Drownload
3. iIll get myself some nice DeWalt clothing and maybe a few tools too
4. Perfect time to paint everything outdoors
5. Get the carpets cleaned
6. We need to get a new 8k TV, it only uses x power and doesn;t give out heat like our 40" slightly thicker
7. Our lay z spa is broke, that's a cert
8. But new swimming pool! See the water bill spike before bans are in place and all that new turf has gone to waste
9. Holidaying in the UK and get scalped, do it abroad and at least yoi get scammed in air con with sea air
10. Typically Kids 6 week holiday
11. If they are changing school theres 100s associated with that, like uniform, new photos, bags, sports equipment
12. Mum, or Dad has to go back to part time for a few months
13. Everyone feels overworked and doesn't mind spending 4 quid for a small soft serve scoop or a slushie
14. The amount we spend on buying ice


And without using ChatGPT (Which is bruning through earth anyway), I can say with conridence the true economy will take a negative hit, due to mainly:
- Low production
- Worst health and sleep
- Arguements
- Traffic and work disruptions

etc etc

Rich

Air con? Dump all your hot air on those outside. So environmentally friendly too!