Our house was completed at the end of 2005. At that time, the regulations regarding thermal insulation were certainly not as strict as they are today, yet I still find the insulation to be, in my opinion, completely excessive.
A few weeks ago, when the mornings were still pleasantly cool, I tried ventilating the ground floor by cross-ventilation to lower the temperature to 20°C (68°F). After closing all the windows, it took less than an hour for the temperature to rise back up to 24.4°C (76°F). It goes without saying that
- all the heating systems were turned off
- such temperatures are not healthy over the long term.
The insulation craze is especially noticeable in the attic, where temperatures of 30°C (86°F) under similar outdoor conditions are common.
After careful consideration, I recently had an inverter air conditioning unit installed in the attic (I work exclusively from home), which has definitely greatly improved the living comfort.
However, to what extent this is compatible with the fundamentally good idea of reducing energy costs—especially considering the expected rise in peak temperatures due to climate change—is something I still wonder about...
Are there other ways to lower the basic indoor temperature to a healthy level (21-22°C / 70-72°F)?
P.S.: There are plenty of search results when looking up “insulation madness”... it makes you wonder if someone suspects something.
A few weeks ago, when the mornings were still pleasantly cool, I tried ventilating the ground floor by cross-ventilation to lower the temperature to 20°C (68°F). After closing all the windows, it took less than an hour for the temperature to rise back up to 24.4°C (76°F). It goes without saying that
- all the heating systems were turned off
- such temperatures are not healthy over the long term.
The insulation craze is especially noticeable in the attic, where temperatures of 30°C (86°F) under similar outdoor conditions are common.
After careful consideration, I recently had an inverter air conditioning unit installed in the attic (I work exclusively from home), which has definitely greatly improved the living comfort.
However, to what extent this is compatible with the fundamentally good idea of reducing energy costs—especially considering the expected rise in peak temperatures due to climate change—is something I still wonder about...
Are there other ways to lower the basic indoor temperature to a healthy level (21-22°C / 70-72°F)?
P.S.: There are plenty of search results when looking up “insulation madness”... it makes you wonder if someone suspects something.
S
Steffen8031 Jul 2018 22:32We have between 50 and 60% humidity with air conditioning at room temperatures of about 22°C (72°F). I find that completely normal.
Outside temperatures over 35°C (95°F) and inside 20°C (68°F) – I only believe that if I see it with my own eyes. There isn’t a single house left on our street with indoor temperatures below 25, 26, or 27°C (77, 79, or 81°F), despite extensive ventilation. After weeks of heat, though, that is perfectly normal.
Overall, I think some people here might be exaggerating a bit.
Outside temperatures over 35°C (95°F) and inside 20°C (68°F) – I only believe that if I see it with my own eyes. There isn’t a single house left on our street with indoor temperatures below 25, 26, or 27°C (77, 79, or 81°F), despite extensive ventilation. After weeks of heat, though, that is perfectly normal.
Overall, I think some people here might be exaggerating a bit.
Steffen80 schrieb:
In the end, I think someone here might be exaggerating a bit Unfortunately, there is no exaggeration here — even if you would like to hear it for your ego.
It works perfectly fine without air conditioning — just by ventilating, using external blinds, and insulation.
The photo is about 5 days old now, but on that day our screed was poured in the garage with the utility room door open, which provides direct access to the garage (needed for water supply to the screed, etc.).
In the rest of the house on that day, the temperatures were still only:
Attic 23.3°C (74°F)
Upper floor 22.6°C (73°F)
Ground floor 21.8°C (71°F)
Garage at that moment 25.8°C (78°F) with around 90% humidity (screed still fresh)
P.S.
Currently, we hardly ever use the TV, laptop, etc.
Those are also heat sources that generate warmth and can increase the indoor temperature during the day.
G
garfunkel1 Aug 2018 16:09Thanks to cold nights, I’m managing okay. During the day, like most people here, I keep everything closed and shaded from outside. At night, everything is opened.
The temperature barely goes above 24°C (75°F), which is still a bit too warm for me but acceptable.
However, I have no chance when it doesn’t get cooler at night anymore; then it doesn’t take long before inside feels just like outside.
The temperature barely goes above 24°C (75°F), which is still a bit too warm for me but acceptable.
However, I have no chance when it doesn’t get cooler at night anymore; then it doesn’t take long before inside feels just like outside.
ypg schrieb:
But I have never heard that good roof insulation contributes to warming in summer. That was the case in the past, when the insulation was not as effective. Older attic apartments heat up due to a lack of insulation. In winter, they are cold. Newer attic apartments, on the other hand, mainly heat up because of the many skylights. Attics were, are, and will remain uncomfortable in summer.
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