Installing good insulation is also really important even if you're not using heat pumps! With bad insulation, you're wasting energy no matter what technology you're using.
Also insulating an old home (pre-WW2) could begin to introduce moisture issues in the walls that weren’t there the last 100+ years since the leakiness of the home would dry the structure. Last thing you want is for condensation and water vapor to build up in the insulation and then begin to rot the wood. Modern build have vapor barriers and airtight seals.
I guess my point is to be careful with old structures without considering things. They were built the way they were because those were the materials we had (old growth wood!) and they were designed to function a certain way.
In Denmark, this was solved by adding a second, modern window on the inside. The outside kept the same look, and it is even more insulating than a single modern window. Is it a bit clunky to have to open two windows ? Sure. But it is better than not having insulated windows, or ruining the appearance of cities.
Im not sure I’d spend the money (or desire the inconvenience) on a job like that on my old home. I’m not sure I’d make the money back in savings during my time here. But during a gutting, makes sense.
[1] https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/01/rebound-...
But it's not like heat pumps stop working because of your insulation. They just get more costly to operate. And especially the smaller systems can only deliver so much energy to your house. Basically, if you multiply the maximum output by three, that should be above whatever you are currently using to heat your house during a really cold month. If it's lower, it's not big enough.
This hermetically sealed environment that we create for ourselves is bad for us.
Side note: As a US resident in an area with a ton of mosquitos, I cannot understand why other countries don't heavily use window screens. Lizards a pretty cool, flies and other flying bugs are just annoying and gross.
After spending some years in Italy I developed a partial immunity to mosquito bites. It lasted for about half a year.
Use to be... native species were mostly a problem during summer and during night time.
But since about 15 years ago you had a massive spread of invasive Asian Tiger mosquitos (Aedes albopictus) genomic studies show it was likely introduced via Italy and Albania simultaneously.
Those things are nasty, go 24/7, and are just a very different beast in terms of disease vector.
There are already established population pockets as far North as Switzerland. Yet another problem that is likely to worsen as temperatures continue to rise.
They employ an amazing tactic by sometimes walking up to their target.
You can hear mosquitoes flying, but their footsteps are obviously inaudible.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_recovery_ventilation
Some might say it's the defining feature and purpose of having shelter is that we don't live at the mercy of the weather.
I can't run a business with indoor temps from 24-31c during business hours. Compounding loss of brain function outside of 18-23c is found by every study I've read.
The less exposure to particulate pollution and extreme temperature, the healthier you are, I can't see any arguments otherwise.
From a business perspective, I think you are probably right. I don’t personally find cold affects my brain function (you can put on warm clothing right?), but heat probably does once we get above 30c. It’s summer right now in Aus, might be affecting some of my posting.
For home though, I’m happy for the inside to be much the same as the outside. Mostly though, I just want the interface between my home and the natural world to be permeable. I think that’s good for mental health, and that the pros outweigh the cons. The thing is that you can’t have that and properly insulate it at the same time. So a choice has to be made, and I personally lean towards less insulation/more lizards.
Having said that, we’re all different, whatever floats your boat. If you prefer plastic bubbles inside caves of steel, who am I to judge?
That's a feature not a bug.
> This hermetically sealed environment that we create for ourselves is bad for us.
Not at all. Heat recovery vents exist for a reason!
I would feel terrible either knowing I'm wasting half my heating energy, or freezing in my home.
Also, relatively small amounts of electricity. Radiant, just like your soul would become.
About radiant heat: it is nowhere near the comfort of uniform whole-room heating.
Obviously this is location dependent advice. If you live in a lifeless suburban wasteland, then outside is no better than inside. If, on the other hand, there is nature around you, and it doesn’t get too cold in winter, then insulation is a pointless exercise! Get a ceiling fan and learn to tolerate a bit of heat.
I, personally, need nature to stay mentally healthy, and having nature wander inside from time to time helps greatly.
Then you put on a jumper, or use a bit of radiant heat if really soft.