you should get some box fans that will fit in your windows. Spread them as far apart as circumstances will permit, then close all of the windows in between. Orient one fan so that it blows in the other so that it acts as exhaust. If you had cross ventilation, the exhaust would be enough. (Do you have a skylight that opens?)
Heat waves of this magnitude are a fairly recent phenomenon for Europeans. Yes, they would happen before, once every few years. But not like now, every year, several times a year. Lets all give a standing slow clap for Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW.)
I never had AC growing up in San Diego. But that is the most temperate locale in all of North America, and something akin to classic, year 'round Mediterranean climate. Dad just set up this enormous fan in the den, turned it to exhaust, and the rest of us just opened our windows.
The first time I experienced AC, I was in basic training in the army, in Fort Jackson South Carolina. The MIDDLE of Summer. The platoon I was assigned to was stationed in these brand new barracks, with AC that chilled the interior to something just this side of a meat locker. So you're all day working and sweating your ass off in 90 + 90 temp and humidity, and walk inside that freezer; no surprise but about 1/10th of the platoon wound up in the hospital with some form of pneumonia. We'd have had fewer casualties if Charlie was still shooting at us.
When I was living in The City ("San Francisco," for you uncouth who don't know), it got unpleasantly warm a few times. I then collected up some air miles from all the travel I was doing for my job and went to Tahiti. Spent a few nights on the next island over, Moorea, and that hotel only had a ceiling fan. But I was young enough, and had missed the most humid part of the year, so that was enough.
It was only when I moved to Chicago that the world beat me into AC submission. Seriously, it really is the humidity. Taking care of my dad's place in Prescott, AZ, the swamp cooler made an 80 deg night feel like 68. But when it comes to that Midwest humidity? Siblings, you are nothing but that funny fish they serve in Boston. (Totally scrod. What? You never saw that word in the past-pluperfect form before?)
Now I'm still living in the Midwest, but it's degenerated to a 20 year old, 30' X 8' travel trailer parked behind a pole barn. I've got an 18kbtu, dual vent portable unit, and it can only barely keep the temps at 90 when the outside is sunny and 95+. (Trailers are your basic "EZ Bake Oven" in the summer.)
By the bye, central AC is one of the worst things you can do. It is wildly less efficient than window units in each room. I no longer have the data at my fingertips, but this is a demonstrated fact. (Consider: why chill a room that no one is using? Yet that is what central imposes.)
A vibrator. Exactly what you're looking for when it's a gazillion degrees outside. Love it....🤣
Erin and I had central a/c installed in our house four years ago. Here in Portland, it's technically not a necessity, but it does help the resale value. Last summer, though, when we had two days above 115, (Hell is real. Who knew?) the air conditioning was no longer a "nice to have."
(Yeah, WHAT global climate change??)
I do agree, though, that Americans have to accept the idea that when you leave the Fatherland, the idea of universal air conditioning goes out the window. I grew to loathe Communist-era office buildings in Serbia and Kosovo with sealed windows. During the summers, when everyone's smoking in the offices and what little air there is quickly turns blue, you can begin to see your life pass before your eyes.
As long as I'm here in the USofA, though, you can have my air conditioning when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.🤭
I spent 2 summers in Afghanistan and 6 weeks of one of those summers in Iraq. Worked on the flight line for 8 months where temps would reach "honest to gawd 160 degrees" when you are surrounded by concrete and pavement. Gave me an all new appreciation for what our coalition troops went through wearing all of their protective gear and packing their equipment in such unbearable temperatures. I constantly asked myself...."Who would fight over this place?" Still don't have an answer.....
A great read, as always. My favorite line (among so many) is the American wailing about rights and taking out his gun and shooting you if you were to dare curtail anything. America has become a place of fear, which is lack of freedom. I'm starting to doubt it will turn around. If the Justice Dept. does not charge Trump with seditious conspiracy, I'm thinking Canada, which should soon be balmy year round.
Stacey, I love this so much! “Italy never promised you easy. She promised you your soul.” Total truth! That is precisely how I feel as well. I love living in Italy with every particle and fiber of my being. ❤️
Wow, that's hot! The summer wasn't that hot when Jack and I had an apartment in Spoleto for 3 weeks. We had the basement apartment, too, which stayed cooler. I remember Italian TV helped me learn Italian and I marveled at the way they used balsamic vinegar. I picked up some great ideas on using balsamic vinegar I use to this day.
you should get some box fans that will fit in your windows. Spread them as far apart as circumstances will permit, then close all of the windows in between. Orient one fan so that it blows in the other so that it acts as exhaust. If you had cross ventilation, the exhaust would be enough. (Do you have a skylight that opens?)
Heat waves of this magnitude are a fairly recent phenomenon for Europeans. Yes, they would happen before, once every few years. But not like now, every year, several times a year. Lets all give a standing slow clap for Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW.)
I never had AC growing up in San Diego. But that is the most temperate locale in all of North America, and something akin to classic, year 'round Mediterranean climate. Dad just set up this enormous fan in the den, turned it to exhaust, and the rest of us just opened our windows.
The first time I experienced AC, I was in basic training in the army, in Fort Jackson South Carolina. The MIDDLE of Summer. The platoon I was assigned to was stationed in these brand new barracks, with AC that chilled the interior to something just this side of a meat locker. So you're all day working and sweating your ass off in 90 + 90 temp and humidity, and walk inside that freezer; no surprise but about 1/10th of the platoon wound up in the hospital with some form of pneumonia. We'd have had fewer casualties if Charlie was still shooting at us.
When I was living in The City ("San Francisco," for you uncouth who don't know), it got unpleasantly warm a few times. I then collected up some air miles from all the travel I was doing for my job and went to Tahiti. Spent a few nights on the next island over, Moorea, and that hotel only had a ceiling fan. But I was young enough, and had missed the most humid part of the year, so that was enough.
It was only when I moved to Chicago that the world beat me into AC submission. Seriously, it really is the humidity. Taking care of my dad's place in Prescott, AZ, the swamp cooler made an 80 deg night feel like 68. But when it comes to that Midwest humidity? Siblings, you are nothing but that funny fish they serve in Boston. (Totally scrod. What? You never saw that word in the past-pluperfect form before?)
Now I'm still living in the Midwest, but it's degenerated to a 20 year old, 30' X 8' travel trailer parked behind a pole barn. I've got an 18kbtu, dual vent portable unit, and it can only barely keep the temps at 90 when the outside is sunny and 95+. (Trailers are your basic "EZ Bake Oven" in the summer.)
By the bye, central AC is one of the worst things you can do. It is wildly less efficient than window units in each room. I no longer have the data at my fingertips, but this is a demonstrated fact. (Consider: why chill a room that no one is using? Yet that is what central imposes.)
A vibrator. Exactly what you're looking for when it's a gazillion degrees outside. Love it....🤣
Erin and I had central a/c installed in our house four years ago. Here in Portland, it's technically not a necessity, but it does help the resale value. Last summer, though, when we had two days above 115, (Hell is real. Who knew?) the air conditioning was no longer a "nice to have."
(Yeah, WHAT global climate change??)
I do agree, though, that Americans have to accept the idea that when you leave the Fatherland, the idea of universal air conditioning goes out the window. I grew to loathe Communist-era office buildings in Serbia and Kosovo with sealed windows. During the summers, when everyone's smoking in the offices and what little air there is quickly turns blue, you can begin to see your life pass before your eyes.
As long as I'm here in the USofA, though, you can have my air conditioning when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.🤭
I spent 2 summers in Afghanistan and 6 weeks of one of those summers in Iraq. Worked on the flight line for 8 months where temps would reach "honest to gawd 160 degrees" when you are surrounded by concrete and pavement. Gave me an all new appreciation for what our coalition troops went through wearing all of their protective gear and packing their equipment in such unbearable temperatures. I constantly asked myself...."Who would fight over this place?" Still don't have an answer.....
A great read, as always. My favorite line (among so many) is the American wailing about rights and taking out his gun and shooting you if you were to dare curtail anything. America has become a place of fear, which is lack of freedom. I'm starting to doubt it will turn around. If the Justice Dept. does not charge Trump with seditious conspiracy, I'm thinking Canada, which should soon be balmy year round.
Stacey, I love this so much! “Italy never promised you easy. She promised you your soul.” Total truth! That is precisely how I feel as well. I love living in Italy with every particle and fiber of my being. ❤️
Love your writing. So fun!
Wow, that's hot! The summer wasn't that hot when Jack and I had an apartment in Spoleto for 3 weeks. We had the basement apartment, too, which stayed cooler. I remember Italian TV helped me learn Italian and I marveled at the way they used balsamic vinegar. I picked up some great ideas on using balsamic vinegar I use to this day.