Aircon: government should fund / subsidise it?

[catspyjamas1]

For context: I'm from Africa. Half my life has been spent in the UK and growing up in Africa, we didn't have AC unless we were in the shops. We had ceiling fans, onshore breeze from the sea, rarely a pool etc.

In the last 7-10 years, it's clear that the UK is not designed for the heat we have now in summer. This will not stop and is here to stay.

I've read several threads in the last couple of years of people in new build high rise flats who are struggling - one this week.
Ditto new build houses. I'm in a new build and upstairs where I sleep is horrific. I'm going to drag a mattress to the living room to sleep.
UK house builds are designed to retain heat - great for winter!! But not for summer.

Will add that I'm now in early menopause (formally!) so perhaps my experience of heat and sleeping is skewed

So:
AIBU: people need to suck it up and buy some fans.
YANBU: government should start a fund to subsidise and/or incentivise aircon in new and old houses (similar to what they did a few years ago for heating)

NB: please don't send me heat reduction tips, am on it and like I said, originate from Africa where 40+degrees C is normal.

My husband is Kenyan and does nothing but moan about the bloody heat here and back home! I am NOT looking forward to the rest of this week. He's going to be a whiney nightmare. I can imagine his reaction if someone told him he should be used to it because he's African. 🤣

But no, I don't think the government should be handing out air conditioners. This country is financially fucked and there are a million more important things money should be spent on.

New builds should be required to meet future needs though. That i agree with. I just dont think the government should be paying for it. They should legislate for it.

Exactly

Even if I could agree with this, if the government were seriously open to looking at spending and reductions there are far far more important things to put that money towards than air con for people’s homes

The HA tenant could get a portable aircon unit.

This thread rather points towards the issue the UK had, in that the government is seen as being responsible to resolve any minor inconvenience anyone faces.

For 2 or 3 days a year?
Just buy a couple of electric fans 🙄

Agree on schools. Aren't hospitals already air conditioned? Forgive my ignorance, I thought they are.

My AC is being installed in a few weeks. My point was that govt should mandate it in new builds and help fund either new or existing builds through a scheme in the same way they did for heating.

Sofa is fabric and I sweat.

Also... A boom in fitting AC to any and every building is only going to increase the temperature. More heat pumping out bouncing around in cities, and more fuel used which will only drive climate change and extreme weather. Cooling a newish energy efficient build with solar panels and AC has a very different impact to cooling an older glass and concrete block or a 1950s terrace with an old conservatory. We need to push renewable energy and building standards harder first. But it does suck I'll agree with you there!

@catspyjamas1

What do you think we should cut to fund it?
Education, NHS, social care ?

People need to learn to adapt. I'm not coping particularly well in this heat but its a few days. I"ll live. Keep in the shade, wear a hat, drink water.
Instead of standard response which seems to be slather yourself in sun cream, slow roast yourself and drink alcohol.

And cut what?
education? Health? Defence….
live in London: have towels on windows and curtains pulled and fans.
house may look weird 😂but we are cool (for almost no cost)
we need to take a little personal responsibility surely?

I'm sure some hospitals are AC'd in some places, but I assure you that it's not everywhere!

The government are not here to fund your lifestyle

Aircon will speed up climate change? I did not know that. Do you have something I can read from a reputable source? Can you also share what percentage of carbon emissions and/or climate change the UK is responsible for to inform us? Thanks so much.

Oh yeh because air con is much more important than funding the NHS! By a fan and get a grip 🙄

Yes for schools, hospitals, care homes yes absolutely they should fund a/c.

Can confirm that being told we're used to it because we're African is annoying! 😂

You don’t pay VAT on certain types.

Ha, I CBA to Google. But I meant that increased energy usage leads to increased emissions which is widely understood to be a contributing factor in climate change. Not that I'm claiming that Britain alone would wildly increase the global temperature by running AC a few weeks a year. But it won't help either.

Honestly! Also OP I know the UK has terrible infrastructure for rising heat, especially new builds, but think of how badly people have it everywhere else. I was listening to a podcast today describing 46 degree heat in parts of India, rural workers with tin roofs, can't sleep outside as it's not considered safe for women. Losing sleep and their income is completely based on their level of productivity each day.

Have a look at other ways to cool your house, external roller blinds is one I'm looking at. Even hanging a sheet outside so it hangs over your windows on the outside can massively reduce how hot it gets inside.

Also not at you OP but it's baffling to me how people can want something urgent done about this heatwave but not about climate change in general.

Sorry babes, I work minimum wage and you want my tax money to pay for your, check notes, air conditioning? Do fuck off.

Your reading comprehension needs some development.

😂😂No, they're not. Do you need some reading lessons?

Who mentioned the NHS? Do you also need a reading lesson? So many pupils for a reading comprehension class that's clearly needed.

Who bears the cost of climate adaptation? The mugs at the bottom of the heap of course. This has been the expectation of the super rich for decades.

Indeed. Strange suggestion I know but why don’t you get a job/do some over time/ save some money and buy a couple of fans yourself?