Twenty Eight Point Eight Degrees

This morning I woke at 4 to have a shower, have breakfast, and then drive to Morges for a 6am run. As a result I had no opportunity to open windows, aerate or anything else. I kept every room closed so each room is a compartment.

The result, is that the temperature in my flat has been completely flat, varrying by .01 of a degree throughout the day, rather than huge fluctuations.

If I blast in the morning, then the temperature plummets, before flying back up to within half a degree. If I open windows, to vent the hot air I also end up heating the apartment.

Intuitively you want to open windows, you want air to flow but by doing this you get warm air to enter, rather than exit. It’s counterintuitive to trust the building to control its own temperature.

I checked the hallway and it is at 29.5°c. Meanwhile the bedroom is at 30°c or more. In all there is a 2 degree difference from room to room, and from one floor to the next.

Netatmo and other apps have a clear message. 28.8 is too warm and most humans will agree with that, especially when there is no movement of air, or very little. The temperature is uncomfortable unless you’re wearing very little. Trousers and t-shirts are sweaty. Shorts are fine. Being shirtless is fine.

It’s interesting that pouring water on arms, neck and face have a refreshing effect, even if the tap water is warm. Instead of relying on evaporation from the body alone, helping it with a splash of water every so often feels good.

We read about taking several showers during a heatwave but that wastes water. If you cool strategic parts, like the neck, arm, and scalp then you’re cool. The static heat becomes more comfortable.

In the end we have to trust the machine to do what it’s meant to, without micro-managing it.