Should new builds come with AC?
Posted by ElektroSam@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 358 comments
"we don't need ac, we have summer 2 weeks a year" - Is this still the case?
This is the first time I've considered buying one in 7 years of being a home owner. This poses the question, should new builds come with AC? (I don't live in a new build now, but did initially).
I know the answer will be a resounding "no" but retrofitting proper AC is costly, I can imagine in the near future this will be a standard?
Available-Ear7374@reddit
No
New builds should be built so they don't overheat in the first place.
All windows should face north/south, with more to the south.. that has impacts on how estates need to be planned too. All south facing windows should have an overhang over them at least half with window height, that keeps 100% of the sun out in high summer. It also means you get maximum solar gain in winter.
This is how my house is arranged and it really works.
01011011001@reddit
House orientation makes a huge impact. The back of my house faces west, it has large patio doors and large windows in the bedrooms. From around 4pm the place starts cooking. By the end of the day it's hotter than the sun itself. Certainly feels like 15 million 'c.
It's a new build with great insulation which is a bit of a double edged sword as it efficiently keeps the heat in during summer.
My neighbour has the same house but the back is south facing, in winter the low sun offers some free heating, in summer the sun goes right over the top of the house and it gets nowhere near as hot as my place.
Gonna fit some awnings above the downstairs windows for next year. Not sure what suitable options are available to help shade the bedroom windows during summer though.
Available-Ear7374@reddit
long muslin curtains for upstairs will make a difference.
Also concider a velux in the roof and open the loft hatch, then the hot air can rise and leave you with the "least hot" air upstairs. Our previous house allowed us to do that and kept upstairs far cooler.
Technical_Front_8046@reddit
Fairly recent the new regs came in to prevent overheating (I think from memory they are Part O of building regs). So developers do need to reduce the risk of overheating now.
All that said, I do believe aircon will become more mainstream in the next few years. The UK is getting hotter and the bbc ran an article on this, this morning.
The issue will be the Developers will try to resist, stop or water down any regs on ac being mandatory. Although I think we are several years off that happening anytime soon.
FreshPrinceOfH@reddit
They aren’t free. Of course they should. Do buyers want to pay for them?
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
Yes and no. It's complicated. On the one hand, we can't ignore the fact that the world is already warming and that as a country, we're simply not prepared for the heat.
In the other hand, AC gives short-term relief, but only makes the problems worse. Widespread use would cause a massive spike in energy consumption, contribute to climate change, affect air quality, and just leave us in a feedback loop.
I'm not patiently for or against AC, and tbh, I'd have it if it were an option for myself. But I can't ignore the fact that if everyone were to suddenly start having it it'd ultimately make things worse and not better lol
ManicStreetPreach@reddit
Ok what if and here me out this might be a crazy idea ...
We upgraded the grid to handle the existing realities of climate change (such as everyone using ac) instead of pretending it is still the 1960s
coffeewalnut08@reddit
There is no reason for everyone to use AC in this country. Open a window, buy a fan, install blackout curtains, plant forests. That’s what newbuilds should be focusing on.
insomnimax_99@reddit
To the… hot air outside?
That just moves the hot air around?
There’s no substitute for AC. AC doesn’t inherently worsen climate change, it just consumes electricity, but that’s fine because the vast majority of electricity in this country comes from environmentally friendly sources.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
It’s not hot outside. It’s warm and breezy, and fans and windows will create a natural cooling effect on the body.
I’ve lived in hot countries, and I cannot stand comstant sunshine and heat (especially the intense heat abroad).
Yet, not once did I resort to using AC because the homes and urban spaces were so well-designed to cool people down in natural, environmentally friendly ways.
There’s no reason why a much colder country like the UK couldn’t adopt some lessons for the 4 days of the year where it’s a little warm.
missincompetent@reddit
I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, but where I live it's not warm a breezy. It's still and hot. We live in a groundfloor flat with very small windows in the bedroom and large ones throughout the rest of the flat, so just opening them all in the night isn't an option due to the security issues that would lead to. We can open the bedroom windows at night but the cooling effect would be negligible due to the small size. Fans just circulate air around, so when it's 25°C+ inside they will just move around the hot air around.
We rely on aircon for about 5 months of the year, specifically at night. And this summer it has been more than 4 days that it's been too hot in the day too and the aircon has come on. I'm sure there are homes where just opening the windows works, in the countryside, or where there are plenty of windows on the top floor, but in a city flat or a house with small/few windows it can be impossible to cool with just opening the windows and a fan.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Most people don’t live in a flat in this country.
missincompetent@reddit
Around 20% of households do, which is a considerable number. And if you live in the south the heat can be unbearable even in a house. Aircon is definitely needed in some cases, it's laughable to say all people can get through the summer with a fan and opening windows
coffeewalnut08@reddit
You know what caused this overheating to begin with? It’s poor infrastructure in parts + bad lifestyles + climate change.
Promoting mass AC use would only accelerate climate change, it’s not a sustainable solution.
Newbuilds should not come with AC automatically, they should be built using natural cooling methods.
missincompetent@reddit
Of course I know what's causing it in the long run, although I'm not sure you can blame it on bad lifestyles.
I've seen you all over this thread talking about how AC will only accelerate climate change. If the energy used to power AC is green, then I don't see how it could accelerate climate change. Unless you know something no one else does about AC? Energy in the UK is relatively clean and the climate effects of the use of energy for AC is minimal compared to the gas we use collectively for heating, or even the energy we use in other parts of our lives. And I'm guessing you're not advocating for not using heating in the winter or never using electricity to power cars, etc?
I'm all for new builds being built with the natural cooling methods, but I am also all for them being installed with heat pumps which can also act as cooling pumps in the summer, aka aircon.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
AC is very energy-intensive which contributes to urban warming and CO2 emissions. They also use refrigerants which trap heat, which will make dense city areas hotter.
We have a country of 68 million people.
missincompetent@reddit
Yes they use refrigerant, but they're in a closed circuit and only leak if there's a break. So I'm not sure how you think they trap heat and make city areas hotter? Unless you're referring to the fact that aircon pumps out heat and you seem to think that causes climate change? And it being energy intensive is only an issue if you use fossil fuels to create the electricity, it's a non issue if you use green energy.
If the heatwaves are only occasional, then aircon use will only be occasional and therefore a non issue when it comes to energy consumption and climate change as a whole. If you're ok with the UK using gas/electricity through the whole of the winter for heating and the climate changing effects that has?
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Because AC expels warm air so it streams out into the streets, making cities and towns even hotter. It’s not sustainable.
Heating is necessary in most of the country for winter because we are a cold country. I’m not going to explain basic geography to you, but I’m also not going to entertain someone who refuses to acknowledge my commentary on home insulation.
missincompetent@reddit
That's rubbish, maybe in London but not in other cities or towns. And how is that related to refrigerants?
I had acknowledged it previously when I agreed with you about using natural cooling methods. Or maybe you hadn't included insulation in that? You also haven't acknowledged some of my points, but I'm not so up my own arse that I get annoyed at you about it :)
I'm just confused to be honest. You're here lecturing about the climate changing evil of aircon, when it's a non issue if you use green energy to power it. And yet you refuse to acknowledge issue with the actual climate changing gas we use for heating. This is why I'm pro heat pump, which I guess you wouldn't be because it can be energy intensive and uses refrigerants. Please be consistent about your approach on how to prevent further climate change.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Urban heat islands are a well-documented phenomenon, not “rubbish”. They are caused and intensified by human activity, including AC use.
Either way, it’s not my responsibility to remind you of the content we learned in GCSE Geography class.
missincompetent@reddit
Urban heat islands are not climate change however, they are just a warming of the local area due to general human activities. AC only being a small part of it.
I'm not sure why you keep bringing up GCSE geography, it doesn't seem relevant, and appears to be your attempt to be condescending. This is more Physics to me.
You don't seem to have an answer for why you're ok using gas which has known climate changing effects. I'd presume if you're pro climate change you'd have ideas for how to phase out the use of gas. It makes no sense that just because we have colder winters, we'd be allowed to pollute more via burning gas. Which is what you seem to be saying? And due to climate change, we're moving towards being a hotter country, therefore by your logic at that point we should be allowed to pollute via AC instead of by gas.
Refrigerant leaks are very rare, and other household appliances are more at risk of leaking refrigerants, such as fridges. So if you're being consistent you'd want to ban those too.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
They contribute indirectly to climate change and unnecessarily perpetuate heatwaves. It’s unhealthy and abnormal to live like that.
Look on a map and locate the UK if you’re still confused about why we need heating in winter. That being said, why do you assume I’m wedded to the gas system in the UK? I didn’t design that, don’t scapegoat me for something I didn’t create 😂 It’s not my fault this country has normalised unsustainable lifestyles.
I’m making a point that we shouldn’t add to that unsustainability with AC.
missincompetent@reddit
Lots of thing contribute indirectly to climate change, AC only does because our electricity isn't green yet. Localised temporary heating isn't climate change.
I think you've decided that I don't realise why we need heating in winter. I never said that and you've obviously misinterpreted what I've said. I'm well aware that we do, and that we need cooling in summer because our summers are too hot due to climate change. And a fan just doesn't cut it, especially if you live in the south. I'm just pointing out that being ok with polluting through the winter but not being ok with AC is an inconsistent standing. At least I'm consistent about how we should heat and cool ourselves. I'm not scapegoating you, I'm pointing out how inconsistent your argument against AC is.
AC only leads to further unsustainablity if we also don't work towards green energy.
But they do still leak, and therefore by your logic, should be banned just incase they cause further climate change.
And I am a little biased because without my home having AC, my pet would die from heatstroke in this weather.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
It’s not inconsistent at all. We are a cold country and therefore we need heating. That said, once again, it’s not my fault the UK has normalised unsustainable systems. If you cared about this, then you would campaign and petition the government for better home insulation. But my guess is that most people don’t bother, and that’s why we have these problems today. Luckily I don’t feel like contributing to it by trying to also normalise AC.
missincompetent@reddit
It is inconsistent. We need AC because everytime there's a heat wave, people and pets die. And as heatwaves are more common due to climate change then we need more AC to prevent deaths. I'm not against heating, I'm against gas usage full stop. And I don't sit there and think we have long winters therefore we should be able to pollute using gas. It's also quite rare to have a long spell of temperatures below freezing, and therefore quite rare for homes to actually freeze. Unless of course you live in Scotland, where that's a real issue.
I do campaign about green issues, but unfortunately the government doesn't want to hear and the green side of the spectrum is split as to how to deal with it. I wouldn't just campaign in home insulation though, that's not going to fix our problems, it's only part of how to fix them.
And you're right, most people don't bother, some don't care and some outright deny there's an issue. I acknowledge the need for AC, in part for the health reasons. I am not ok with my pet dying as a result of man made climate change, and I'd hope you wouldn't be too.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Because AC expels warm air so it streams out into the streets, making cities and towns even hotter. It’s not sustainable.
Heating is necessary in most of the country for winter because we are a cold country. I’m not going to explain basic geography to you, but I’m also not going to entertain someone who refuses to acknowledge my commentary on home insulation.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Yes it is, that’s where the heat comes from - people aren’t hot because they have the radiators on, they’re hot because of the hot weather.
Passive cooling doesn’t work beyond a certain point - it’s simply against the laws of physics. You cannot passively decrease temperature in an area because heat energy naturally moves from hot areas to cold areas (i.e, from the heat outside to the cold inside) and doesn’t naturally do the reverse - you can’t naturally decrease temperature in an area without using up energy in some way (i.e, AC).
I’ve spent a good amount of time in areas around the mediterranean, and the heat is unbearable because they refuse to install AC.
AC isn’t inherently bad for the environment - as long as the energy source powering it is environmentally friendly, then so is the AC system. And the vast majority of energy in the UK is generated using environmentally friendly means.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
It’s not hot, it’s warm. The heat comes from poor lifestyles, certain infrastructure and bad coping mechanisms.
Passive cooling certainly works. Especially in a country like this one which doesn’t seem to incorporate passive cooling techniques at all.
The Mediterranean in heat is fine. And I’m someone who hates heat and constant sunshine. Their buildings, diets and lifestyles are built around the heat and when I followed the norms I was able to cool down easily.
ThatFilthyMonkey@reddit
Different climates though, we tend to have less breeze and more humidity so it feels more uncomfortable.
I used to live in a place where we’d regularly hit 37+ degrees every single summer and I coped far better when outside in it than in the UK.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
We certainly don’t have less breeze…We’re one of the windiest countries in Europe and an island which means coastal breezes are common.
ThatFilthyMonkey@reddit
But it’s not as cooling, this is from AI so a wee pinch of salt has to be taken as with anything AI but I don’t think it’s wrong:
“On a hot day, a breeze in Mediterranean countries is likely to feel more cooling than a breeze in the UK, primarily due to lower humidity, which enhances sweat evaporation, and the influence of cooler sea breezes in coastal areas. However, the exact cooling effect depends on specific conditions like wind speed, the temperature of the air mass, and local humidity levels. For example, a Mediterranean sea breeze at 10–15 km/h in 30°C with 40% humidity will generally feel more refreshing than a UK breeze at the same speed in 28°C with 70% humidity.”
Hopefully that doesn’t come across as too ‘ackshully…’, I just don’t think you can compare the two.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
I'm already 27. Which may still sound young, but on the grand scale of UK megaprojects, I'd be lucky for us to be ready for such a thing before I reach my demise... Hey, if the will of the people is to have AC and we wanna build all these new nuclear plants and whatever to have it, let's do it. But we'd be fooling ourselves if we thought the UK was able to actually get its finger out its arse and construct that was needed in any reasonably sounding timescale.
HDK1989@reddit
This country is so doomed. gen Z think AC is too aspirational to achieve in their lifetime.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
I've never been called Gen Z before, haha. I'm right on the border of where they consider Gen Z and Milenials, and as I have much more in common with Milenials.
And I thought that would be taken as sarcasm, lol
RunTimeFire@reddit
Crazy talk.
KarmaIssues@reddit
Widespread consumption of AC would happen to coincidence with the exact time that solar panels produce the most energy.
If anything it could help decarbonise quicker as it lessens the need for energy storage. If you have an oversupply of energy the grid either needs to throw the energy away, pay people to consume, stop paying producers or store it.
We can't bring storage online fast enough so AC can help fill a gap.
Big central AC units are more efficient than the little ones everyone ends up buying anyway.
Not all consumption is bad for the environment, it can sometimes increase demand for green technologies.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
That's interesting. I'm not massively knowledgeable on anything climate related, and like I say, I'm not that passionate about it either. I drive a normal car, take planes on holidays, and do whatever else they say is bad for the environment. So I'm not trying to come across as aome kind of eco warrior here. If what you say is true, I'm all for it. I'd 100% get AC if I could afford it. And if we're able to power a country and of AC widespread AC usage and do jt sustainably, then that's a bonus.
KarmaIssues@reddit
I wasn't trying to attack you, it's just there's this undercurrent in the environmental movement that consumption is bad, so we should try and reduce as much as possible.
I think it's important to add nuance.
A lot of consumption is bad for the environment, some of that consumption is also completely unnecessary.
But reduce, reuse and recycle came about in a time before the UK started to use less CO2 for unit of GDP growth (called decoupling if you would like to look it up).
It came about before solar panels were the cheapest form of energy generation and it came about before large scale battery tech became viable.
I'm a bit biased, to be honest, because I'm sort of an anti-degrowth environmentalist.
Dry_Action1734@reddit
Yet again, someone putting the onus of environmental protection on ordinary people, which is a small part of the problem, not massive corporations, which is the majority of the problem.
CranberryCheese1997@reddit
I'm not a climate nut, lol. I even said I'd have AC myself if I could afford it, so clearly, I'm not judging ordinary people. It doesn't mean I can't acknowledge that widespread AC would actually make things worse over time, not better.
ValuableMajor4815@reddit
Yes. Even if they would be only really necessary if cooling a short period, they are still very useful as dehumidifiers all year long.
blood__drunk@reddit
Can you tell me more about the winter efficiency?
spartan0746@reddit
AC is just a heat pump, so the same efficiency principles apply.
saxbophone@reddit
Is it really? Why then do the stories in the news about heat pumps being the future of indoor heating and cooling, specifically call them heat pumps and not AC‽ You'd think if they were entirely equivalent, they'd just pick the term everyone was already familiar with (AC). Feels like "heat pumps = AC" isn't the full picture...
spartan0746@reddit
Because most heat pumps in the UK are air to water. AC is usually air to air.
Air to water is fine for heating but pretty useless for a domestic setting when cooling.
saxbophone@reddit
I understand that air-to-water is a bit of a scam in terms of meaningful gas boiler phaseout. We clearly need air-to-air heat pumps for a successful transition.
Not sure that means that all AC is a heat pump, though, as AC implies at least air cooling without necessarily heating, heat pumps imply reversability by definition.
rulebreaker@reddit
AC is a heat pump without a reversible cycle. It’s half a heat pump.
spartan0746@reddit
It’s still a heat pump, like a heat pump in most people’s heads will only do heat.
An AC just does it in reverse. If you get an air-air heat pump then most models can do both.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
Most air to water units are also physically capable of it just needs to not be locked in software. It’s also mostly pointless
Fred776@reddit
You need to install additional internal hardware for cooling using air to water. The point about air to air is that you have one single internal unit that can persuade both functions.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
You don’t always need to. My A2W Vaillant unit is physically capable of cooling out of the box (but UK models need a plug in resistor to enable it in software.
Fred776@reddit
I understood that you could install cooling fans into an A2W system. I don't know how effective they are but they seem to be about £500 a unit so I would hope that they did something useful.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
I’ve not played with adding and specific fan cooling units to mine. Have been told pretty much it’s not worth it and to go A2A for the cooling side of things.
Fred776@reddit
Fair enough. I suspect you are correct that A2A is the best option if your priority is cooling and space heating, and A2W for space and water heating. I wonder if we'll start to see people going for hybrid approaches. From what I've read, A2W works best with something like underfloor heating but that tends to be something you only install on the ground floor of a house. On the other hand, the need for cooling tends to be greater on the upper floors.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
A2W works absolutely fine with radiators in my experience, you just need bigger radiators to get the best benefit at lower flow temps. I designed my system to 32.5c flow temps so have some relatively hefty radiators downstairs. My upstairs radiators are tiny and actually considering looking at reducing the size further.
UFH just increases surface area and heat output.
Fred776@reddit
That's interesting to know thanks. Looking at getting an extension in a couple of years and I'm starting to think about what is worth doing at the same time.
I was aware of larger radiators as an option but hadn't heard that upstairs might not need to be changed, so that makes it a bit more attractive as an option.
Do you need bigger bore pipework with the big radiators? We have "standard size" everywhere except one upstairs room at the moment, which has that microbore stuff.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
Whether upstairs needs to be changed depends entirely on what's there now and the heatloss. My heatloss upstairs is practically non-existent (150w per room)
The size of the piping depends entirely on how much heat you need to get through the pipes and the Flow / Return temperature delta (usually 5c for heat pumps, 12c for pre 2005 gas boilers and 20c for post 2005). If you have a pre 2005 house designed for DT12, there's a significantly lower chance that new pipework is needed.
Heatgeek have a really useful size guide here: https://www.heatgeek.com/does-my-pipework-need-upgrading-for-a-heat-pump-with-cheat-sheet/
If you have a heatloss of less than 6kW and 22m pipework, like me, you're sorted. If you have legs that split off to 3/4 rooms in 15mm, that may need changing.
10-15mm to a single radiator, maybe even 2 smaller radiators will be fine.
If you're building an extension, it's probably worth looking into UFH, but make sure that it's properly sized for a reasonable target flow temp as that's a lot harder to change down the line than a radiator
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
Running cold water through radiators will result in condensation.
teeeeeeeeem37@reddit
Only if it goes below the dew point. My Vaillant knows the indoor humidity and temperature and the outdoor humidity and temperate and adjusts the minimum water temperature accordingly. I’ve never seen a drop of condensation on any radiators or any unflagged piping
illarionds@reddit
Moody modern AC heats as well.
afpow@reddit
The “modern” bit is the caveat. Best check to ensure you don’t buy a basic system that doesn’t heat. Loads of grifters will enter the market if there is a sudden uptick.
dubdub59@reddit
In fairness though, even if it’s works well as a dehumidifier that will still help with heating in the winter
IssacHunt89@reddit
300% upwards efficiency. Pretty good.
zq6@reddit
Physics teacher and pedantic sod chiming in; please don't use the word efficiency here!
Typhoon4444@reddit
I also understand the science but I always think the word 'efficiency' is absolutely fine to use for AC.
You essentially get 300% of the heat that you pay for via electricity. 300% efficiency makes it quite easy to understand and directly comparable to gas / oil boilers which cannot be above 100% efficient for the amount of heat output versus amount of thermal fuel paid for.
IssacHunt89@reddit
Please inform me why? I want to learn.
zq6@reddit
Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output/total energy input, and thus must be between 0 and 1, or 0% and 100%.
Heat pumps move thermal energy, and thus they can transfer more energy than is input. We can't call this "Efficiency" in the Physics sense, so we call it the "coefficient of performance". For heat pumps - especially those moving heat from a cooler space to a warmer space - can have a COP substantially greater than 1.
For example, a ground source heat pump is provided with 1J of energy to shift 3J of thermal energy from the ground to inside your home. Assuming the 1J also ends up as thermal energy then you've added 4J of warmth to your home while only paying the electricity company for 1J. An electric heater, on the other hand, provides 1J for every 1J you pay for.
Minimum_Rice555@reddit
True. Also to mention that gas/oil etc. boilers always have a COP less than 1. Heat pumps normally have at least a COP of 2-3, sometimes even more.
MarkBorrigan69@reddit
By this definition heat pumps still have more than 100% energy efficiency.
zq6@reddit
No, because some of the energy isn't "output", it is transferred.
MarkBorrigan69@reddit
Last time I checked, there was definitely heat being output from the heat pump lol
IssacHunt89@reddit
Sounds good.
WinglyBap@reddit
It implies you’re creating energy out of nothing which is impossible. With electrical heaters its energy in = energy out.
Fred776@reddit
In this case you only count the energy you are paying for - the electricity - as the "energy in". The "energy out" is not created out of nothing as it comes from the air outside.
zephyrmox@reddit
It's not electric heating though - heat pumps move more heat than the energy they consume, so when comparing their running cost vs the heat output of an electric heater, it offers 3x the heating per unit of electricity used.
zq6@reddit
Yeah i think you are making the same point as the comment you're replying to
DisneyBounder@reddit
If you remove the moisture in the air, it feels much warmer and it's better for your home.
davehemm@reddit
Reduction of humidity in hot weather will make it naturally feel cooler - you can sweat easier.
VanderBrit@reddit
You sweat the same, but in drier air the sweat can evaporate more easily and that’s what cools you.
davehemm@reddit
Yes, I should have clarified better.
doublemp@reddit
This only applies in the winter for cold damp houses, however heat pump only dehumidifiy when in cooling mode (where you see the drip from the outdoor unit). In the summer it can be more pleasant not to have very humid houses as well and makes you feel cooler.
Nonetheless, warming up the air in winter increases its capacity to hold moisture, so the air becomes relatively drier with the same amount of water in it (%humidity goes down).
Either way, it's a win win.
Bendy_McBendyThumb@reddit
It also doesn’t retain the heat as long, though. There’s always a tradeoff.
banedlol@reddit
Technically heat pumps would pump cold water through the radiators but it would be a condensation nightmare.
They could just install heatpumps that distribute hot/cold air instead of liquid.
Nimphina@reddit
My friend had his boiler replaced with a heat pump and it can pump cold water into the radiators. It's not as good as a blown air unit but it does knock a degree or two off.
banedlol@reddit
It's a really bad idea to do though because you will get external condensation on the radiators
Spinkhorn@reddit
radiators not so much of an issue: copper pipework within the fabric of the house more so
optimisticsceptic@reddit
does copper (actually, any material, including plastic) pipework in walls need insulation for
Light Cooling & Heating
thinking an ASHP with Strada Hybrid ACO [for example] is the best of all worlds;
UpgradingLight@reddit
Still not many people are aware that ac can do heated air too and keep you warm in the winter. It can be cheaper than central heating
buckwurst@reddit
Literally billions of people around the world use AC for heating as well as cooling (the majority of East Asia for example). No idea how it compares price wise to central heating though.
Jayatthemoment@reddit
Lived in a couple of countries where it is standard. It uses a fair amount of electricity but electricity is cheap in not-U.K., mostly.
I didn’t use it much because it’s very dry and needs constantly maintenance to not smell of burning dust and mould. I just used to shiver.
This doesn’t seem to bother me, using the same system for aircon in the winter.
If I could afford it and my house wouldn’t fall down if I tried to build it, I’d have split aircon and underfloor hearing. That’s the magic system, in my opinion.
buckwurst@reddit
Yeah, they're not ideal, but for places that only get cold 6-8 weeks a year good enough. If I were to ever build a new place in the UK I'd have AC in at least the bedroom and underfloor heating as well
theModge@reddit
More people are aware of it when you refer to it as a heat pump - that's what they are.
The ones you can get a grant for are air -> water, whereas traditional air-con that can cool as well as heat is air -> air, but none the less it's much the same.
People do things like air to water, with underfloor heating downstairs, which also supplies domestic hot water, then air to air upstairs so you can have cool bedrooms. It's on the "when we've recovered from the financial shock of buying the place" list for our new house.
Careful use of shutters \ sun shades has a place too though:: much of Italy lacks aircon and they get way hotter than us
120000milespa@reddit
No, because you wouldn’t spend a fortune for something that happens a few days every few years.
DEADB33F@reddit
Solar & AC are a good combo.
Means the power for the AC is essentially "free".
wimpires@reddit
And EV chargers while you're at it
Kaizer0711@reddit
This is the combo I have. Both split air con units can run for free during direct sunlight but one can run all the time during good sun/daylight hours.
optimisticsceptic@reddit
how do you find the AC units for heating?
they work, of course, but are they noisy? is the draught they produce acceptable | tolerable? [the answer is yes, of course, and is subjective; just wondered what you thought, and if they were an acceptable compromise]
[I learnt recently this distinction is thermal comfort]
there's a huge variety of AC units; would you mind sharing your make and model so we know a good AC unit [from a bad one]? The design and installation make a huge difference, of course.
Kaizer0711@reddit
Heats just as well as it cools though heating is slightly more expansive than cooling.
Only as noisy as the fan speed you have it on. It's a fan, after all and they make noise. Most come with a comfort setting so they're dead quiet.
The draught is what it is. Depends where the unit is, where you're sat/stood, furniture in the way etc etc. Again, it's a fan. You'll feel something.
I have two Daikin FTXP35M5V1B9 indoor units and two equivalent outdoor units. FTXP35 is what you want to Google.
I'm a HVAC technician so ask anything
optimisticsceptic@reddit
thanks; really appreciate that
I managed to find...
https://www.daikin.eu/en_us/products/product.table.html/FTXP-M9.html
interesting that cooling and heating have a 'silent operation' mode. cooling in silent operation mode sounds perfect
am a long way from purchase / installation, but thinking this is a 15-20 year purchase in the UK in 2025, so have to design for longer, hotter summers
but trying to decide between...
I'm still trying to firm up ideas. But I should probably firm things up with numbers (eg is an ASHP COP of 5 better than lower COP from a reversible air conditioning in monetary terms].
Kaizer0711@reddit
Don't bother with Altherma. They're a bag of shit.
You can buy a 3.5kW split (indoor/outdoor units only) for around £1k with Mitsi or much cheaper with Midea. I wouldn't think you need to wait 15-20 years. It's hot af now!
My bedroom is 18°C all night. You can't beat a good night's sleep. If you're thinking of AC now, I'd be getting it now.
optimisticsceptic@reddit
thanks; I didn't write it very well - currently have a system gas boiler and traditional radiators; thinking about it's replacement which will need provide what we need for the next 15-20 years
great to hear it works so well in your bedroom
Kaizer0711@reddit
I still have a combi and rads. As and when I'll use the heat from the ac for example if I'm downstairs for ages I'll just run the ac heat in the livingroom rather than the whole house. Mainly bought both splits for summer cooling though.
optimisticsceptic@reddit
if still necessary, after good design and construction
Wikipedia tells me Passive House originates in the 1970s
If we have been specifying, designing, building, funding and maintaining very low energy very high comfort passive houses for over 50 years, we should be at the mass production stage by now; it should be the norm
an even higher standard, Passivehaus Plus, should generate an [annualised] surplus, even after cooling needs in summer [ie that which might be provided by AC]
the first was built in the UK in 2015 - ten years ago.
it's disappointing that we know how to produce affordable, comfortable, efficient and healthy homes; we just don't [in general]
bluesam3@reddit
Yes, because they should come with heat pumps, and there's very little reason not to fit reversing valves on them, at which point you have AC more or less for free.
Sea_Lawfulness_9254@reddit
I’m buying a new build that has a heat pump and as you say it doesn’t have the reverse valves on it. I’m going to be paying to install split ac when we move but it’s frustrating that given we’ll have a heat pump why can’t we do it with that rather than having the separate units.
Do you know why they don’t use these ones? Is it a cost thing?
Pure-Kaleidoscope207@reddit
The government don't allow heat pumps that can be used for AC to count for the subsidies.
It's stupid and would get a much higher uptake if they did, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
If you got told for £2k you could have whole house heating and cooling then I'm sure you'd jump at it!
optimisticsceptic@reddit
referring to this specific thread only; new builds don't qualify for boiler upgrade scheme [as of July 2025]
jacoscar@reddit
You also need fancoils with heat pumps to make them work in cooling mode, otherwise you’ll have condensation on your floor or on your radiators
brasssica@reddit
Go air-to-air, skip the radiators
FortuneMundane7896@reddit
Our new build got to 38 degrees a couple of years ago (not during the actual 38 degree heatwave). The next year we got air conditioning. We also have solar panels so don’t feel the cost impact much.
I genuinely believe they should have air conditioning/heat pumps as we don’t put the heating on during winter at all but it gets unbearably hot if the weather is over 24 degrees. It’s always approx 6-12 degrees warmer in the house than outside without aircon
wtfylat@reddit
It's a design issue, the builders just do enough to tick off the regulations and the regulations only seem to be focussed on heating and heat loss. There's absolutely no thought to them being livable spaces so noise dampening, build quality, storage provision and outdoor space is all minimised in the pursuit of profit.
Virtual-Purchase1919@reddit
I bought an aircon unit 15 years ago when I moved into my new house. Everyone took the piss out of me with the ‘you’ll only use it one week of the year’. Well the summers are getting hotter and longer and even after the first year of use (a couple of weeks of use in the bedroom to get a good night sleep) I was happy that the unit had paid for itself. Everyone I know has since asked me for my advice on purchasing one, so who’s laughing now. £ for £ it was the best £200 I’ve ever spent.
Sorry went a bit off topic, but yes all uk houses should come with aircon as standard. Mine is nearly on its way out now but has served me well. I won’t hesitate to spend what it costs to get a new one.
trappedoz@reddit
Here is the thing we so adamantly deny. AC is not only helpful for heat, but also for humidity, dampness, mould, etc. Proper and modern pumps can be used for both heating and cooling. So yes, absolutely if we want to move away from the 19th century
HobNob_Pack@reddit
The state of new builds and you would trust the same idiots to install propper ac?
Taraxcum_officinale@reddit
Im in a new build. Certain rooms are unusable during the hottest parts of the day.
I've been here a few years now and have learnt through trial and error that I need to follow a system of strategically shutting certain rooms off .I have to stay up late airing it out, and then ideally get up early in the morning and do it again. Once the temperature outside gets warm enough for it to be warming the house up, not cooling it down, I shut all the windows until it's cooler outside than inside.
Every year, I wish I had enough money to buy and run an AC unit in even just the bedroom.
CocoRufus@reddit
Are you me? I have a 1st floor middle flat in a 10 year old small block. I only have 4 windows, all facing the same way, so there is no through breeze. It's unbearable every summer. I have to do the same routine as you, and it's still boiling. Got a quote 5 years ago for air con for my living room. £5k
ElektroSam@reddit (OP)
Dumb question but would blackout curtains deflect heat better?
Exact_Setting9562@reddit
Blackout curtains make a huge difference. The rear of my house has the sun on it in the day.
The kitchen has reflective blinds and it's perfectly pleasant.
The dining room has normal blinds and you can feel how much warmer it is there.
They're getting swapped out for black out blinds shortly.
Shades over the windows outside could work as well.
krappa@reddit
They help a bit. External shutters would help much more but they are hard to install in Britain.
---_-------@reddit
I really think that if the regs are fussy about aircon, they should be relaxed about shutters and awnings. It’s as if strangers occasionally looking at the exterior of buildings is more important than the people who have to live in the buildings.
Shutters and awnings were the go-to before aircon was developed.
Big-Tooth6571@reddit
How much more effective are external shutters?
wait_whats_this@reddit
I'm from a southern country. It's insane to me that we don't have external shutters in the UK. In my experience, if used properly, they'll keep the indoors livable through 45+ heat waves without aircon. With aircon, they'll keep lower your energy use MASSIVELY because your not just getting 1kW/m^2 of heat through your windows.
krappa@reddit
A lot. They block the heat before it enters. Anything that is internal will absorb a large part of it and radiate inside.
I'd say that a south facing flat with curtains that gets to 30C here would only get to 27C there.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
I have dark curtains and they help a lot, especially with an open window. They block out the sunlight, which seems to be the big driver of heat in my rooms.
Taraxcum_officinale@reddit
They do, light coloured is better than dark.
Dapper-Message-2066@reddit
Maybe they should build newbuilds a bit better to aboid this....
zippyzebra1@reddit
I'm in a new build and mine is ok most of the time. Is yours a house or a flat? I live in a house and i can get a draught through mine. In the evening it is quite pleasant. Once it gets over 30c it becomes pretty bad though
melanie110@reddit
I have a 3 story townhouse and my top floor bedroom is like Satans ball sack in summer so we have aircon
Taraxcum_officinale@reddit
Me too, with a lot of south facing glass downstairs. Hopefully getting rid of the glass eventually will help.
melanie110@reddit
Our downstairs is semi open plan as we’re mid terrace so only kitchen and living room. Kitchen is quite dark and in winter the sun in the living room doesn’t get over the house at the back so we’re tempted to rip out the bay/patio doors and put full glass folding on the bay to bring more light in
Taraxcum_officinale@reddit
If i could swap my sunny glass with your dark kitchen and living room I would. Probably be regretting it on sunny winter afternoons though!
melanie110@reddit
Yeah exactly. The kitchen is so dark being north facing and only a tiny window. When we remortgage, we’re taking enough out to revamp the whole downstairs (like I said not very big) but we’re going to block up the kitchen cum living room, knock the hallway wall down and make that a kitchen diner so with new bright cabinets and the light from the front door, will brighten it somewhat
This pictures is what we’re going to turn into glass with the bay and each corner.
Da5ren@reddit
Yeah but this method is the enemy of hay fever sufferers. We have to choose between boiling to death or suffocating from a blocked nose
Thraell@reddit
You can make a frame to fit in front of a window out of MDF with a hole cut out to stick the exhaust pipe on with duct tape.
Not pretty but it'll work better than leaving the window open fully and sticking the exhaust out, also reduced hay fever risk.
I also highly recommend wrapping the exhaust pipe in bubble wrap to reduce heat transfer back into the room as the hot air leaves.
Other_Nothing2436@reddit
Quite surprised to hear this, would have thought a new build would be better insulated?
Taraxcum_officinale@reddit
They are better insulated, this can mean that once the heats in it takes longer to get out.
I think with temperatures of 30 degrees and over for multiple days in a row, most people are fighting a losing battle in any house in the UK.
Outrageous_Ad_4949@reddit
That's not how insulation works.. I live in a new build. Rarely need to turn on the heat in winter. All I have to do these days is reflect the sun away from my windows from 8ish until mid-day when it goes over to the other side. When temperatures go above 23-24 I simply close my windows and terrace and wait for the evening. That's how insulation works... thermal energy transfer is reduced both ways. Unless doors and windows are open. You don't have a lot of thermal mass added, so it should cool off rather fast overnight. Standing water helps, absorbing ambiental heat through evaporation. Before you go to bed, leave some in your sinks and bath tub.
krappa@reddit
Better insulated from the cold, yes. From the heat, no. Many have large windows that let the heat in via the sun rays. And the insulation means you don't cool down at night.
Other_Nothing2436@reddit
Insulation also keeps the heat out, although I understand the issue if you have big windows directly in the sun
krappa@reddit
The worst heat comes in via radiation. The insulation you need to keep that out is exterior shutters for windows and balconies. Common in Europe, non existent in Britain.
Other_Nothing2436@reddit
I actually have a "balcony" outside my flat as an access walkway for the flats upstairs. It makes a huge difference, and also keeps it warmer in winter
Active-Task-6970@reddit
No they shouldn’t. We do only get about 10 hot days a year. It’s not worth the expense and maintenance.
ilikenoise2020@reddit
I think that passive cooling should be prioritized. It would be good to see considerations for passive cooling and other adaptations to climate change as a requirement for planning permission for new builds.
If ac is still needed after that it would be good to see it included, given the impact of of extreme heat on people's health.
Laescha@reddit
Yeah, absolutely. AC is an expensive and environmentally unfriendly option, and there are much cheaper to build and run options for keeping a new build house cool in summer - but developers consistently build as cheaply as they possibly can, using bottom of the barrel techniques and materials, which is why new build houses often have crap temperature control. Get the basics and the passive stuff right, and you wouldn't need AC.
drplokta@reddit
AC won't be especially environmentally unfriendly in the future, when all of our electricity comes from renewables. It's madness for the government to keep discouraging things like AC and car driving based on their current CO2 emissions rather than their planned future CO2 emissions.
Exact_Setting9562@reddit
Tbh you can't just keep adding cars to the roads and expect things to run smoothly. Congestion doesn't care what fuel a car is using.
drplokta@reddit
And that's why the government needs to be building more roads now, not refusing to do so on the basis that driving cars causes CO2 emissions. Future cars will be cheaper to buy, maintain and fuel, and won't cause CO2 emissions, so there will be a boom in miles driven. We need to be preparing for it.
Exact_Setting9562@reddit
Tbh you can't just keep adding cars to the roads and expect things to run smoothly. Congestion doesn't care what fuel a car is using.
onionsareawful@reddit
Environmental concerns become increasingly negligible as renewables power larger and larger portions of our grid.
Passive cooling can only work so well, and the reality is that it working "slightly less well" means thousands of people will die from heat exhaustion. \~2,000 heat-related deaths in the UK each year, 4x the number of murders.
MisterBounce@reddit
It's not an either-or, and perhaps it ought to be both, but I'd prefer passive design elements to be improved - the low ceilings, tiny windows and lack of green space around many new builds IMO have a negative impact on quality of life beyond just temperature regulation.
MisterD90x@reddit
for the price you pay for those (some not all) shite builds id expect a servant to follow me everywhere and fan me and feed me grapes as i lay of the sofa
Exact_Setting9562@reddit
No.
They should come with proper measures to stop the heat getting in. Window shades or shutters for one.
Moving the problem to having to run AC is far more costly for the household.
ipascoe@reddit
Yes. Don't understand why this country is so reactive,rather than proactive. If global warming continues; all the new homes currently being built,will be uninhabitable in 10 to 15 years.
HeartyBeast@reddit
No. The should come with solar and batteries
onionsareawful@reddit
Solar panels provide energy during the day, when AC is most needed.
HeartyBeast@reddit
Absolutely, they also shade hot roofs. My point was that new builds shouldn't come with AC as standard. But if you have solar, it can power portable AC without increasing carbon emissions
Spinkhorn@reddit
Most installs of solar on new builds though would be installed in-roof: there's no use the builder paying for tiles that will then be covered by panels: solar panels are now cheaper per sqft than tiles.
HeartyBeast@reddit
Interesting point. I hadn’t thought about that. Is that actually happening where a new-build specifies solar?
onionsareawful@reddit
Portable ACs are horrifically inefficient, though, we have far better ways. If we're building new builds with heat pumps then just install reversible ones, which function identically but can cool efficiently.
theocrats@reddit
Precisely my thoughts.
I live in a Victorian terraced house with solid walls and awful insulation. Windows closed during the hottest hours with curtains and blinds closed. Everything then open when it's cooler. The house yesterday stayed at 22c even when it was 32c outside.
Pigeoncow@reddit
Meanwhile I'm in a top floor flat and getting roasted by my idiot downstairs neighbours leaving all their windows open all day.
theocrats@reddit
Oh man, that sucks.
One piece of advice, get a fan and put it under an open window when it's cooler. The fan pushes the cool air in. I managed to cool my daughters room by 5c in about 10 minutes last night. She's in the loft room, so it gets mega hot
memebecker@reddit
Same the brick interior wall really helps regulate the temperature, feel bad for anyone who's made theirs open plan as then it will be much less able to keep a stable temperature.
brasssica@reddit
Yes, because that AC should also be a heat pump. Air-to-air heat pumps are reversible ACs and are more efficient than the air-to-water ones.
vonscharpling2@reddit
Absolutely, and in fact the government actively discourages this in new builds through regulations. That seems crazy to me
I know people in new build flats in London who have barely put their heating on in winter, but find heatwaves unbearable.
In terms of the environmental impact, it is much much better for them to have a few days of AC (which can draw increasingly from solar since it's disproportionately used on the longest and sunniest days of the year) than it is for the likes of me to be running heating for months on end.
The people who write the rules aren't planning on living in flats I think, it's always easier to say someone else should take the hit for the sake of the environment. But climate change is only going to make more people need AC for more of the time.
ldn-ldn@reddit
Another issue with regs is that they require HUGE windows. Which let crap loads of sun in. Which causes quick overheat. Yet no external shades allowed. UK regs are incredibly dumb.
oalfonso@reddit
Shutters solve that issue. They are great in winter too adding another insulation layer, including noise protection.
ldn-ldn@reddit
External shutters.
51onions@reddit
In what way is it discouraged?
I know for home owners, grants are available to install air to water heat pumps (but not air to air, ie air con). Do builders get grants for specifically air to water too?
insomnimax_99@reddit
Building regulations.
There are a set of building regulations (known as part O regulations) that set energy efficiency standards that new builds have to meet.
These regulations heavily penalise air conditioning and air-air heat pumps. They also penalise things like large windows. Because of these regulations, it’s essentially impossible for developers to get planning permission for developments with air conditioning.
Buck_Peru@reddit
Part O is overheating not energy efficiency. Part O compliance means that certain new builds have to use an alternative to opening windows to comply, which means mechanical systems of cooling are being adopted.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Part O only allows the use of active cooling systems as an absolute last resort, and reaching that threshold is extremely difficult, and usually requires the developer to pay for expensive heat modelling to demonstrate to the planning authority that active cooling is required.
Buck_Peru@reddit
Not true. If there’s a reason you can’t use an open window then an alternative needs to be provided. The thresholds for noise, security and safety are all very clear. Most developments in the SE (and definitely London) will have a form of active cooling going in and the developers (more often promoters) have no say in this whatsoever.
51onions@reddit
That's a shame. I bought a new build last year, and I would have loved if it had air conditioning. Instead I have a gas boiler and a noisy, inefficient portable air conditioner.
Since the house has only just been built, it feels like it would be a shame to immediately start ripping the plaster off the walls to run air conditioner lines, at great expense.
Those regulations seem stupid.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
It doesn’t get hot enough for long enough in most of the country to warrant AC, not to mention it will just contribute to runaway climate change. No thanks
Better_Concert1106@reddit
Yes it does. And we shouldn’t self flagellate/make ourselves uncomfortable because of climate change. We should be adapting and making sure we have sufficient clean energy to run it.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
There are many eco friendly ways to build a new-build estate that’s not hot
aenemyrums@reddit
It's interesting that you've not replied to the two comments pointing out that AC can itself be eco-friendly and very effective.
eazyseeker@reddit
Because they are biased and already made up their mind on the matter, evidence be damned.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Many human cultures have developed sustainable ways of cooling down in the heat. There’s no reason a cold country like the UK can’t adopt them instead of resorting to an unsustainable, environmentally damaging AC which only contributes to warming.
eazyseeker@reddit
Doesn’t sound to me like you live in the real world at all mate.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
So Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and the whole of the Middle East didn’t exist in the real world before AC was invented?
eazyseeker@reddit
You’re describing countries where A/C is even more relevant. Yes A/C did not exist in the past, and people lived and died. The internet also did not exist in the past, nor did electricity. Are you claiming we don’t need useful technology?
coffeewalnut08@reddit
I’ve lived in these countries and never had AC anywhere except in the shopping malls (and shopping malls aren’t that common there).
eazyseeker@reddit
Speak for yourself and let others live as they wish. Seems like you have a real desire to instruct others how they're supposed to live and what technology they can or can't adopt.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
The Mediterranean has a combined population of perhaps 200 million, and they have much warmer weather than us, so no. I’m speaking on behalf of half of the European continent, not just myself.
Hope this helps!
eazyseeker@reddit
And how many homes in the Mediterranean have air conditioning?
coffeewalnut08@reddit
In the Mediterranean, homes are designed to keep out heat. Shutters, or reflective curtains are used. Flats/apartments face shaded courtyards that block out sunlight. Streets are white/light to reflect the heat and avoid surfaces from becoming too hot. There are trees, gardens and parks everywhere. People drink cold soups, smoothies, water and fruit juices regularly to stay hydrated.
This is sustainable, and this is the kind of lifestyle I lived along with 200 million other people :-)
coffeewalnut08@reddit
It’s interesting you ignore that all AC does is expel heat into the streets, worsening heatwaves, and is very energy-intensive. There are plenty of real eco friendly ways to cool down, like planting trees and gardens in urban spaces.
Better_Concert1106@reddit
Passive cooling is great to a point but nothing beats proper air con. Go to a hot country where they design/build to take account of the heat and you’ll still find air con is used. The only issue with AC is that it uses energy, but modern inverter systems are far more efficient and if our energy is clean then there’s no issue. Solar PV on a house and AC for example.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
I’ve lived in the Mediterranean and AC isn’t widespread. I relied on shutters, dark rooms, tile floors, and cold soups/smoothies/orange juice/fresh fruit and veg
Better_Concert1106@reddit
I was in Greece last week and almost every building had condenser units on the outside. Shutters/dark rooms are great but AC was still needed. Nothing wrong with it, no need to live in the dark ages just need to ensure the energy powering it is clean.
illarionds@reddit
Speak for yourself. My house has been unbearable for weeks and weeks now.
And modern AC uses remarkably little power, and the demand is automatically matched to solar PV generation. Mine is essentially run purely from my panels.
It's not anything like the environmental nightmare you make out.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Have you exhausted all other options before resorting to AC? Because I suspect a lot of people haven’t.
However, OP’s question emphasises newbuilds. Newbuilds should absolutely not be institutionalising AC systems. There are 1000 different ways to build a green, sustainable housing estate that’s naturally cool and fresh without installing AC in each house.
newbie_long@reddit
But they don't
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Well perhaps that should change
jaa101@reddit
But heat-pump use is proven to reduce CO2 emissions compared to other forms of heating. So, in the cold UK, the gains from using a heat pump for winter, spring and autumn heating is going to more than offset the losses of using that same heat pump for summer cooling.
iwantfutanaricumonme@reddit
AC doesn't do anything to the environment other than consume electricity. The great thing about that is that with a modern, well insulated house a smart AC can be scheduled to run on cheaper, renewable electricity at off peak times and keep the house cool all day. Instead we are still wasting electricity on inefficient portable AC while we suffer in the heat.
You can design a house to be more comfortable in the heat, with a covered porch and balcony on the southern side and a design that increases air flow, but that doesn't make hot, humid air no longer hot and humid and it would also not do great in winter which is still more important in the UK.
krappa@reddit
I'm in one of those flats. It's unbearable. And leasehold rules don't allow us to install normal AC. It's bonkers.
eazyseeker@reddit
You can install water cooled A/C - try urbancooling
krappa@reddit
The previous owner left me with that (only in 1 room). 5,000 litres of water a day though, over £20 a day, I'm using it but it's not a sustainable solution.
eazyseeker@reddit
Interesting - good to know. So traditional AC is still the way to go.
mrb2409@reddit
I have a south facing floor to ceiling windowed apartment. I barely use heat in winter; usually just to take a bit of dampness out of the air. In summer I have to use portable AC and it only makes it liveable not comfortable.
krappa@reddit
I can't feasibly use portable AC as my windows face the tube tracks and if they are cracked open in any way, the noise is extreme 😂
PixiePooper@reddit
The racket that most portable AC units make would surely drown out all other noises.
krappa@reddit
Nope - portable ACs are about 60 decibel, the trains noise is 70 decibels if we open the window.
LohaYT@reddit
Yeah same situation. The room feels about 10c hotter than the air temperature outside. And there’s nothing you can do about it because you only have windows on one side
Thestickleman@reddit
You can buy portable wines and and use a window seal kit of you have any openings (will deal on doors as well)
krappa@reddit
Our windows face onto train tracks so there are secondary windows and need a tight seal to block the noise
srm79@reddit
Yes, and people really should know that air conditioning isn't just about cooling air - it can do that in the heat, but it's more about balancing humidity and is good for heating in the cold months. It's good for double glazing units and maintains a consistent temperature and humidity in any weather
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Some new builds do, ie high end luxury apartments in London. But the reality is that most people couldn’t afford to run AC. It’s more expensive per hour than heating, and unlike heating, you can’t run it for a couple of hours and switch it off. Air con is also dangerous if not correctly maintained and frequently breaks down in hot weather. In flats, this is a cost that is added to maintenance fees
BroodLord1962@reddit
People moans about homes been too expensive anyway, so no. Not to mention that AC is actually bad the planet, so will just add to warming
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
The UK's electricity right now is 83% renewable/nuclear.
BroodLord1962@reddit
LOL it's not just energy usage, it's the greenhouse gases they release. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), contribute to global warming.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
There's less than 1kg of refrigerant in a typical home system. Even if you were to release all of it into the atmosphere, it would have about the same effect as burning one tank of petrol.
BroodLord1962@reddit
But what happens when everybody wants to do this? The planet is already starting to burn because there are too many people on it that don't give a shit about the very planet we need to survive
JacenKas-Trek-Geek@reddit
We moved into a new build in March. It came with solar panels, waste heat recovery for hot water, weather boarding the front for better insulation, thicker radiator pipes to support future heating tech and then they had to add two extraction fans in just the main bedroom (no other top floor room) to pull excess heat out. They aren’t very effective.
They should at least be putting the air pump heating in that also cools in summer as a minimum. AC is very expensive to run.
jaju123@reddit
Modern AC is a heat pump
JacenKas-Trek-Geek@reddit
No, they are not. They are different.
jaju123@reddit
I have AC and it's a heat pump. Any modern AC you buy is a split heat pump setup. Have a Google.
JacenKas-Trek-Geek@reddit
So you have a heat pump then, they can reverse flow and cool. An air conditioner is not the same. Google it.
jaju123@reddit
Let me help you out
https://www.daikin.co.uk/en_gb/residential/inspiration/articles/air-to-air-heat-pumps-vs-air-conditioning.html#:~:text=Units%20that%20both%20heat%20and,space%20warmer%20than%20your%20bedroom.
JacenKas-Trek-Geek@reddit
Your article just proves my point. It’s an air-to-heat pump, not an air conditioner. Read that article again
jaju123@reddit
No, I bought and installed air conditioning. You could also call it a heat pump because they're the same thing. Thanks bye
SYSTEM-J@reddit
People are forgetting that last year we had a complete wash out of a summer. This is the hottest summer we've had since 2018. We seem to get a really hot one roughly once every five years on average. 2025, 2018, 2013, 2006, 2003 by my reckoning. So I still don't think we're at that stage yet.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
It hit 40 degrees in 2022.
SYSTEM-J@reddit
And? We all know there's a little 3-4 day heatwave every year when it's unbearably hot. That's not enough to qualify as a hot summer. Often it's not even a full week. 2022 was a pretty good summer but it wasn't scorching for weeks on end.
onionsareawful@reddit
The heatwaves killed and estimated \~3000 people in England alone.
GreatBigBagOfNope@reddit
They should have heat pumps that do central air, which is both heating and cooling
onionsareawful@reddit
They do, but they're ineligible for subsidies.
sidneylopsides@reddit
We've just moved from a 50s semi to a detached new build, the new build stays noticeably cooler in this weather, even though we currently don't have blinds or curtains on some of the windows.
I have a portable AC I bought to use in the last house, I've used it in my office today as it's one of the rooms with no way to block the sun, but the bedrooms and living room are cool.
Wolf_Cola_91@reddit
Also worth pointing out that AC air filters remove a lot of airborne pathogens.
Covid basically wasn't a thing in the UAE because everywhere was air conditioned.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
lol what. They had over a million cases and 2349 deaths.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates
Wolf_Cola_91@reddit
Ten times lower death rate than the UK.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
No lockdowns, other than shutting schools, universities, shopping centres, and imposing curfews?
They also have a significantly younger population than the UK, given that 90% of the population are migrant workers.
Wolf_Cola_91@reddit
I'm not getting into a debate about the severity of covid with someone on Reddit in 2025. It's sunny outside 😄
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
You did, and you were wrong.
TheAlbertBrennerman@reddit
Optional extra. Foreign propaganda
TwoValuable@reddit
Not a builder by any means but I should imagine it'd be easier and more efficient to have air con planned into the build then it is to retroactively fit it.
Some people would argue they'd never use it, but my colleague put a photo on her Instagram story of her 2024 new build house being 30c at 10pm yesterday evening. So I could see it being a massive drawer when you have such a well insulated home.
AdAggressive9224@reddit
An AC is just a air source heat pump only running in reverse. In fact, most ACs are also heat pumps.
So, yes, it's a good idea to install and AC, as you can heat your house affordably for most of the year, then on the 3 days of the year where it's unbearably hot you can have some respite. Overall, good for the environment, good for your lifestyle.
JBG0486@reddit
Absolutely. AC can cool and heat. The UK is wildly un prepared for climate extremes. It blows my mind that public transport isn’t ACd.
27106_4life@reddit
Yes, or at least a heat pump to keep cool. We also need a massive renovation of housing in the UK to make it better insulated. We have such shoddy housing stock here compared to the states, Canada or the Nordic countries it's pathetic
YetAnotherInterneter@reddit
They already do!
The governments Future Homes Standard prohibits new homes from having natural gas boilers installed.
The obvious alternative to a gas boiler is a heat pump. A heat pump is basically an AC unit that can also work in reverse.
In the winter it will pull in hot air from outside (yes I know that sounds odd, but 10°C is warmer than 5°C, heat pumps can capture that warm energy and pull it into your home)
And in the summer you just reverse the process, capture warm energy from inside your home and move it outside.
They do this with relatively little electricity and are super efficient (over 100% efficiency because the application itself doesn’t generate heat, it just moves it from one location to another)
Btw - this is basically how a refrigerator works and we’ve been using them for decades. It’s crazy that heat pumps haven’t caught on sooner!
Delicious_Shop9037@reddit
No. We are moving to heat pump technology which will be able to cool our houses with the same principle as an AC unit. It would be redundant.
SpectralDinosaur@reddit
Personally, I'd say yes. But unless it's a personal build most new builds are done as cheap as possible. Extras like AC don't really fit into that.
Super-Craig@reddit
For a long time I never used to include them in my new builds, but that was because for a long time I only ever had the two HVAC specialists on payroll.
Nowadays, I employ several HVAC specialists and always make sure to include them. However, I'm a build/buy-to-rent landlord so there is every incentive for me to keep my properties well conditioned and venilated. The money I save on black mold removal and related repairs alone more than makes it financially viable.
Build-to-sell property developers don't have to care for the property after it's been built so there is no financial incentive to build to include what many of them no doubt see as extra bells and whistles. There is such a huge demand for property, that a unit without AC would sell just as easily for the same price as a unit with AC.
It's the same reason why they only install double glazing and single unit boilers.
Conversely, the reason I install quadruple glazing is to spare the wear and tear on the central heating. It's also why I install dual combi boilers, so that if for whatever reason the primary boiler should fail, all my tenants to do is flip a valve and press a button to switch over to the auxiliary boiler.
That way in the two to three weeks, although sometimes it has been upto six weeks, it doesn't matter because my tenants have both central heating and hot water for the duration of however long it takes my tradesmen to get around to it. A dual combi boiler bought in bulk is always going to be cheaper than the cost and inconvienence of putting your tenants up in a hotel for three to six weeks.
In the end, it always comes down to money, and the landlord has every financial incentive to look after and care for their properties, and by extentsion, their tenants, while the property developer only has counterincentives.
eazyseeker@reddit
Do you have a portfolio of builds?
Academic_While_7759@reddit
This country needs more landlords like yourself !
Dapper-Message-2066@reddit
No they shouldn't.
Ceiling fans are more than enough.
Ruadhan2300@reddit
I suspect it'd be more valuable to improve ventilation in the roof.
In my house, the attic gets very hot, and the large mass of stationary air insulates the upstairs, which then heats up.
There's no easy way to get rid of that heat, even if we open windows the attic still functions as an insulated hat.
Air-con would not prevent this unless you placed it on the roof.
Astrohurricane1@reddit
The system I have in my office I just set the temp, set it to auto and it pumps out either hot air or cold air depending on what’s required. No reason that houses couldn’t come with the same system other than the install cost.
Kyber92@reddit
They should come with a hybrid AC/heat pump. It's the future, like garlic bread
davehaslanded@reddit
Or just build with heat pumps that can do both heat & cold. Improved heating efficiency in winter, & air con for summer.
B23vital@reddit
Ive been wanting to buy AC for like 3/4 years now. People say its only 2 weeks but hot summers are getting more regular, i think people just forget in general. I remember being in my last house thinking it and i havent lived there for nearly 3 years.
I think new homes should absolutely come with solar panels, however AC is probably an additional that people should buy themselves, but including them wouldnt be the end of the world either.
drplokta@reddit
Modern new-builds should have heat pumps, and many of those can run in reverse to circulate cold water through the radiators when it's hot. It may not be quite as effective as dedicated AC units, but it's a lot better than nothing.
banedlol@reddit
Just get a portable AC and keep one room cool. I only use mine 3-4days a year. Didn't even need it last night the fan was plenty.
twentyone_cats@reddit
I absolutely think it should be included as an optional add on. I would jump at the chance.
Marlobone@reddit
Yes I have a split ac unit in my bedroom and it’s great
elmo298@reddit
Can I ask how much it cost? We're looking at a 4 way split soon
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
You can get an instant quote from Boxt to give you an idea.
elmo298@reddit
They only do up to 3 unfortunately!
unknown_beyond@reddit
We have the same and it was £1250 fully fitted. We have a Fujitsu WiFi enabled model.
elmo298@reddit
So probably fair to budget ~£5000. Thanks!
CeresToTycho@reddit
Yes , absolutely.
They should be reversible heat-pumps. It's a very, very efficient way of cooling and heating a home. I don't know why we insist on sticking with water based heating in new builds when heat-pump powered air heating is so much better.
Kind-County9767@reddit
If they're coming with heat pumps I don't see why they couldn't have reversible hot/cold cassettes as a part of the heating solution tbh.
poshbakerloo@reddit
I wonder how much electric AC uses? Also it needs to be serviced. However, ACC is hot and cold, so could you use it for heating in winter instead of central heating? I know my office building uses it for that!
lara_lime@reddit
Yes yes 100x yes, from me in my new build which has consistently been around 27° this week :')
spammmmmmmmy@reddit
At a minimum you should have a two-way air source heat pump that's a heater and cooler.
And: awnings over any windows that get direct sunlight.
Ldawg03@reddit
They are absolutely needed. To put it bluntly, there will be more excess heat deaths as climate change worsens and we need to start adapting now in order to save lives. Heat pumps are actually a great solution because they can heat as well cool homes and are more efficient than traditional radiators. When combined with rooftop solar, (which all new build homes are required to have) they can be used without emitting carbon so it’s a win win situation. Talking about air conditioning, they are pretty much standard across every new home in developed countries like the US and Australia. Even developing countries in Asia and Africa are purchasing ACs and some analysts predict in the near future there will be as many AC units as there are people in the world which is a crazy statistic. This of course includes commercial AC too in places like schools, hospitals and shopping centres. As a personal story, when I started secondary school 10 years ago we never even had any AC at all. The teachers had desk fans but that was it. During heatwaves it was so swelteringly hot that the dress code had to be relaxed so students could wear shorts in class. We were also warned against playing outside because of the intense sun, some kids even got badly burnt and I was one of them. I stupidly never had any sun cream on and burnt. My teacher said I looked a prawn lol. I had to be sent home because I was in so much pain and couldn’t focus. On the bright side I got to have Friday off so I had a long weekend which was nice.
09philj@reddit
My house was built in the 1930s. It's a small NE/SW facing terrace near the edge of the Tyne and Wear metropolitan area. It has been retrofitted with loft insulation and double glazing. It has been comfortable to be inside all summer even when it has been miserably hot outside.
Embarrassed-Bicycle9@reddit
The perception of the term A/C is where the problem lies.
Many air con systems of a domestic nature are reverse cycle heat pumps and do heating and cooling, it's been office tech since before the millennium.
It's not air conditioning though, it's comfort cooling. Blame car manufacturers for blurring the lines there, true air conditioning is a full environmental monitoring and does proper humidity control that comfort cooling doesn't.
JourneyThiefer@reddit
Depends on the area. It’s just not necessary here in northern ireland for example
fantastic_cat_fan@reddit
It's also humid as fuck here (far more so than GB) - even 20 degrees can be uncomfortable. I went and bought a portable AC unit the other day in preparation for this weekend, having being meaning to get one for years.
Hippadoppaloppa@reddit
We can see its getting hotter for longer every year. It's only going to carry on like this, so I think UK homes should have AC now.
Sunshinetrooper87@reddit
I'd rather we focus on mandatory solar pv, heat pumps as the bog standard. How places get built with nothing like that in place is beyond me.
I would like to see more focus on housong estates being built with community renewables such as a turbine and battery storage to power shops, schools, surgeries, community spaces etc.
Bad_Combination@reddit
Isn’t AC part of the air source heat pump sell? It provides heat during the winter but can also provide cooling in the summer if needed, or so I thought.
8balltom@reddit
No they should be designed better in the first place, have adequate insulation and airtightness with MVHR systems installed. Building regs in this country are ridiculous and we get taken for a ride by greedy property developers that lobby to keep the standards as low as possible. Healthy buildings make healthy people.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Yes.
The part O regulations that effectively ban AC and air-air heat pumps need to be scrapped.
Part O regs result in homes that are just unpleasant to live in because they effectively ban air conditioning (including air-air heat pumps) and heavily penalise things like large windows and higher floor spaces.
citruspers2929@reddit
What? What about all the “luxury” flats being built in London at the moment with floor to ceiling windows and ac?
Buck_Peru@reddit
Part O doesn’t ban anything and in fact necessitates the use of alternatives to opening windows to control overheating in certain areas.
Relevant-Formal-9719@reddit
I live in a townhouse constructed in 2011, its very well insulated and retains to much heat in summer. we've lived here since 2016, this year we are pricing up getting a mini split AC for the living room and bedroom. They all offer heating and cooling these days because they are inverter heat pumps so it will get use all year. i quite like the Toshiba haori as the wall units have some good features but also the outdoor unit has quiet modes but ive also looks at mitisbishi electric, Panasonic and LG.
seklas1@reddit
Yeah, if they put heat-pump, sure. Otherwise I’m not really bothered. Also we do only get a heatwave for a few weeks a year. However it’s been getting slightly longer year on year and getting heat-pump system installed is very useful either way.
umognog@reddit
We should switch to forced air heating systems & use air source heat pumps.
In summer, reverse the heat pump system to cool the air instead.
So many wins;
CombinationNew8658@reddit
Split systems are not that expensive to fit really. Those that have had it done will tell you it's life changing and worth it. The rest of us moan for a few weeks a year and get by with a fan.
I ended up getting a portable unit for £200 and converted it to a dual hose system. It's noisy, expensive, and sits in a cupboard taking up space for 90% of the year. But the times I've used it, it has been bliss.
whitehat61@reddit
Yes, I live in a new build and it’s unbearable in the summer but on the flip side, I’ve never had to turn my heating on in the winter!
HughWattmate9001@reddit
I live in a post-war prefab. It’s like a little cottage, brilliant in both winter and summer. Funnily enough, when I first moved in, I assumed it’d be awful because of the reputation for rushed construction. Everyone knows these were meant to be “temporary” and full of asbestos.
Turns out, there’s no asbestos in mine, and it’s far from temporary. It actually looks better than the so-called “new builds” they threw up 15 years ago just down the road.
The real reason they don’t build them like this anymore is cost. It’s cheaper to do everything on site now than to transport in the pre-made kitchen and bathroom units like they used to. They literally lorry in a full section with all the plumbing and electrics already sorted. (and this costs more than building on site)
The walls are thin but surprisingly well insulated. It's a layer of concrete mixed with some insulating stuff with stone chippings on the outside, a wooden frame (which would have to be metal now to pass regs), then an insulated air gap around the outer walls, not the inner ones, and plasterboard on the inside.
To me, the answer’s obvious: build better housing that actually works in both hot and cold weather. Simple as that. No need for proper aircon just get a unit and use as/when needed.
MiddleAgeCool@reddit
It's because of the power draw they'd require.
If you normalised AC in the UK then the demand for electric goes up. The national grid would struggle even with 1/3 homes having it fitted as the main usage would be during the evening when power generation from things like solar decreases. Until the national grid upgrades are completed between 2035-2040, then no one wants to have the conversation regardless of how valid.
TeaBoy24@reddit
AC is useless without proper insulation and passive shading on windows.
Yet they can't even do that.
HealthyWhereas3982@reddit
I'm intrigued by this idea. If all newbuilds were built to a high insulation standard, and had solar panels/heatsinks etc installed, then it wouldn't cost loads to use aircon for heat/cooling, would it?
Temperatures are only rising (unless we end up with a nuclear winter, in which case it won't matter to us), so aircon has to be a way forward. Otherwise the UK will grind to a halt in summer, full of tetchy, sweaty and exhausted people.
Not sure how I'd retro fit aircon to my old terrace house, but it does stay fairly cool downstairs in the heat.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
No. They could be built better instead, so like my house which is warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.
Last night, after making sure the upstairs windows and black out blinds were fully closed until it cooled down after it started getting dark, we never went past 22 degrees.
Down stairs stays cool very well, as long as you get no direct sunshine getting in. So rightnow I have everything open getting morning cool air in.
A/C will wreck havoc on your breathing, if you have allergies and asthma stuff you won't like it.
It takes constant maintenance to keep them going at their prime, it's an going cost.
Hospitals, care homes, other places of humans services and places where groups gather, should invest in cooling.
dbe14@reddit
Yes. Absolutely. And free AC units for everyone as well, it's too effing hot.
FoxGranite@reddit
I live in a south facing new build, I bought a unit which is AC, dehumidifier and heater. It was expensive, but it's worth it on days like this.
Kpowell911@reddit
Itll add £3k per room mind
No_Imagination_sorry@reddit
I literally said this to my wife yesterday while driving past a new estate that is going up near us.
That being said, you might argue against it for environmental reasons too - as AC uses a reasonable amount of power.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Our new build is 4yrs old and the side of the house without the sun isnt too bad
However as night falls all that trapped heat stays in the house
iamabigtree@reddit
If you are building with heat pumps and heat recovery systems with heat exchangers etc it's not a big step to installing A/C too
Ok_Landscape_3958@reddit
New builds should come with proper walls, proper insulation, proper windows, and solar panels on the roof.
m1nkeh@reddit
Full HVAC man ✌️
Buck_Peru@reddit
So… changes to permitted development rights around heat pumps mean that it will be a lot easier going forward to have a cooling system installed in homes without the need for planning permission.
Also, new build need to comply with part O of the building regs (overheating). There are various things that need to be satisfied, which means in certain areas there’ll be a need for a form of mechanical cooling (not natural ventilation). I imagine that this technology will become more widespread just like whole house ventilation systems.
Near future standard = no. Though I would definitely say yes to the future.
PmMeYourBestComment@reddit
No, they should come with heatpumps that have both heating and cooling options. But also proper preventative measures to actively keep heat/sunlight out
DigitalPiggie@reddit
No. My new build cools very easily by itself (with windows open) each night. Sleeping with the covers on every day, for free 👍
stiggley@reddit
Yes, but as a heat pump so it can heat in the winter, and cool in the summer.
fluffy_samoyed@reddit
Honestly, I think we need to move away from radiators and into forced air systems, which can both heat and cool using heat pumps. Making it the standard in a new build paired with solar panels would be a nice first step.
The_Deadly_Tikka@reddit
I could be wrong but I believe most A/C also does heat as well. Just seems like the way to go
Amanensia@reddit
It's not that expensive to retrofit proper AC. I've got two Daikin split units and they are tremendous - I don't regret it for a minute. £3k very well spent. The "two weeks of summer" trope is wrong, and AC has other benefits (efficient heating; dehumidifying; pollen filtration etc.)
As for whether they "should" be in new builds - no, I see no reason for compulsion.
Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit
No. AC will make things worse in the long run. Not better.
I agree new houses should be built with heat in mind. Look at Southern Europe for ideas, i.e. shutters.
TURBINEFABRIK74@reddit
Why not? You can buy one that it’s also an heat pump… 2 in 1 and you will use it the whole year
Facelessroids@reddit
No. I’m in a new build and it’s fine
Turbulent-Pilot-1436@reddit
Honestly no, I don’t even think it’s been that bad. I work nights and slept all day in this heat without a fan. I’m sure I’ll change my mind this weekend though 🤣
Azuras-Becky@reddit
No, I think new builds should be built with heat pumps as standard. They're more efficient than either air conditioning or boilers, and they can handle both heating and cooling.
Suddenly ramping up air conditioner installs, at least while our energy grid isn't fully renewable/nuclear, would just accelerate the problem.
Refrigernator@reddit
“AC” is an air to air heat pump, and if they’re correctly sized they can be as efficient, sometimes slightly more efficient than an air to water heat pump, but works great for both heating and cooling.
beejiu@reddit
An AC is a heat pump.
Azuras-Becky@reddit
If you want to be reductionist about it, sure.
'Heat pumps' are a specific branch of technology though, distinct from air conditioners.
beejiu@reddit
Reductionist? You're the one claiming that heat pumps are more efficient than AC despite them being the same thing.
Azuras-Becky@reddit
They aren't the same thing.
beejiu@reddit
I can't argue with you, do some research.
Azuras-Becky@reddit
I don't need to do some research as I already know the difference.
Here's a company that installs the things explaining the difference. https://www.boxt.co.uk/heat-pumps/guides/heat-pump-vs-air-conditioning
digitalend@reddit
The link you've shared is quite misleading and weirdly written. According to it 'Air conditioners, on the other hand, use refrigerant'. All of the heat pumps we are talking about use refrigerant. They all move heat.
I think where it gets confusing, and where people start to argue is the terminology. 'Heat Pump' is a technology - used in Fridges, Air conditioners, air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, etc. What we in the UK typically refer to as a 'heat pump' for heating a house via radiators is an air source heat pump. You can also get Air to Air heat pumps, which is what an air conditioner is. The wikipedia entry is informative, if not exhaustive: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump
beejiu@reddit
A heat pump is a thing that pumps hot air from the outside to the inside.
And an air conditioner is a heat pump that pumps hot air from the inside to the outside.
It's the same machine, just in reverse, and the efficiency is the same.
bluesam3@reddit
"Heat pump" is rather broader: for example, water-water heat pumps don't do anything with hot air: they adjust the temperature of water.
Also, neither moves hot air anywhere: they extract heat from one place and transfer it to somewhere else, through some kind of working fluid (that is not air).
nomologicaldangIer@reddit
They are based on identical technology. A heat pump is just an air conditioner running in reverse.
Slanahesh@reddit
I would say all houses should be built with heat pump AC units now. Works all year round to keep the inside of the house a good temp. Of course, extra insulation will help that goal too.
Star___Wars@reddit
Air to air heat pumps and air con is the same thing.
BoggyRolls@reddit
When I built my new pc I got it free with the graphics card. It's a good game.
VastYogurtcloset8009@reddit
Thinking if having it fitted upstairs for bedrooms. Unsure whether to just get a standalone unit
djashjones@reddit
Yes, got to keep the snowflakes frosty... meow, ha ha.
Informal_Safe_5351@reddit
Without this loud portable ac I have in my hmo room id be fucked....so yes
LordAnchemis@reddit
Yes, but part of heat pump system - so you can use it in the winter too
homelaberator@reddit
There are ways of designing houses to be more "thermally comfortable" that don't involve adding air conditioning.
There are places that get much warmer than Britain that don't routinely install air conditioning.
No-Drink-8544@reddit
No, just buy a standalone AC unit you can fit into a single room, real AC is for Americans where they're dealing with 40c weeks, our heatwaves are a joke.
boredofwheelchair@reddit
Yes but I’m more in favour of Air to Air heat pumps that can be used for both heating and cooling
Bernardozila@reddit
I think it should be down to personal preference, like a customisation option, or have the structure there to support it should an owner want it down the line. Im fine with AC but it is expensive to run, bad for the environment and lots of people (who didn’t grow up in 100% AC’d environments) don’t like it. Good insulation should be the priority. I also genuinely don’t think the UK will be hot enough to warrant it in the next 100 years. If you live in a desert, sure, AC makes sense… but why do you live in a desert if you can’t handle heat?
HDK1989@reddit
Well, have I got some really bad news for you...
DisneyBounder@reddit
Definitely! I scoffed at having ducted heating in Aus because they don't really do gas/radiators here, but it does warm the room up really quickly which is idea when you only need the bedroom to be warm for an hour or so in the morning while you're getting dressed. The downside is though that I feel like the house doesn't really retain the heat as well (but the insulation here is shocking anyway) so as soon as it goes off, the temperature starts dropping quickly. Our last house had solar panels on the roof so using it to heat the house was really quite cheap.
Outrageous_Ad_4949@reddit
Should new builds come with a bomb shelter? There's a war in Europe... No. They shouldn't come with AC. It's very much an optional.
Have you considered installing awnings on your south facing walls? You can add aluminium shade sail cloth on top of those awnings on hot summer days and will very likely see a significant drop in temperatures inside. Trees would usually do the trick, but it takes a bit longer to grow them...
coffeewalnut08@reddit
No. Doesn’t get hot enough long enough for that. And the environmental impact is atrocious. No need to contribute to it.
Buy a fan, open a window, install some good curtains or shutters. Improve public transport, reduce car dependency, transform urban jungles into greener spaces (trees and plants have a natural cooling effects).
Mithent@reddit
Environmentally, we (much) more than offset our air con usage in the summer with our solar, and in the winter, we use the air con for heating instead of the gas boiler.
One-Cardiologist-462@reddit
It would be nice, but we don't yet have the low energy costs required.
You have to remember that even as recently as the mid 1980s, they were only found in about half of US households.
Alarming_Profile_284@reddit
Battery > Solar PV > Heat Pump > AC
Imaginary-City-8415@reddit
What did people do before AC? Go visit southern Europe and you'll see. And ask Italians if they love AC or not.
coffeewalnut08@reddit
Facts
AmarilloMike@reddit
How recent is a 'new build'? Ours is 8 years old (we're the second owners) and it's fine. Downstairs is floor tiled throughout, Mediterranean style, so that helps a great deal in the summer. Winter, we have slippers so still grand.
Apidium@reddit
Reversible heat pumps I think should be.
They can operate both for heating and cooling and are the only option that actually makes sense.
behavedgoat@reddit
Put a cold wet towel round your neck . Thank me once you done it
LatelyPode@reddit
I think new houses should be built with a heat pump instead of a boiler. An air to air heat pump can be used as an AC in the summer and a heater in the winter
McLeod3577@reddit
It would actually make a lot of sense. AC systems can also heat. They have similar efficiency to heatpumps, but are less costly to install. They can cool in summer "for free" via solar panels, and would reduce the need for gas, just like other heatpumps. You also have the added bonus of air filtration. You wouldn't need masses of pipework and a massive tank like other heatpumps. A smaller tank with an immersion with solar divert and/or heated off peak, would work absolutely fine for hot water.
spriz2@reddit
im not saying yes or no but the answer is increasingly heading towards yes as the years go on
LitmusPitmus@reddit
It will only get hotter (in the short to medium term anyway) seems like a no brainer to me. And as much as people complain about the energy grid really we need to be maximising it's potential regardless
Lassitude1001@reddit
Definitely should. I also think winter fuel payments should be extended to summer fuel payments... Or just rename it to extreme weather payments to make it easier, to get AC in for those who need it.
Sea_Praline_6343@reddit
Me and the hubby attempt to stay reasonably fit and do a 10k steps walk each evening after dinner. On return, it is now normal to say how 'the wall of heat is going to hit us' as we enter.
I now think the age of AC is upon us.
ElektroSam@reddit (OP)
I went for a 2k run earlier and was sweating for about 30 minutes after.
I'm relatively fit but overweight... I've never been that disgusting before
Spontanudity@reddit
Do new builds come with any other white goods like that? Genuine question.
Lassitude1001@reddit
Would be closer to ask if they come with a central heating system/boiler I'd say.
ElektroSam@reddit (OP)
When we moved in we had all white goods (fridge, oven, washing machine, dishwasher). ( We bought off plan)
Spontanudity@reddit
Ahh thank you for your answer. I can see why they wouldn't provide it because actual built in air conditioning units cost thousands. You can get pretty cheap ones nowdays (bought one 3 days ago for £150 and it's great)
ElektroSam@reddit (OP)
My 2 year old son is currently hugging me from behind in bed right now and I am sweating profusely!
Queen-Vulgaris@reddit
I say this as someone currently gasping for air: yes!
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