heat

In the midst of a heat wave, Europe has started buying air conditioners in droves. And China can’t cope

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I don’t know anyone who likes air conditioning, especially for sleeping. However, when the heat hits, it is impossible to spend the days indoors. if we don’t have the device on. The problem is that I am speaking from the position of a Spaniard who lives in La Mancha, where air conditioners practically come with houses. Further north or in the rest of Europe, directly, the air conditioning with 20% penetration in houses, it is a mythological animal. It was, rather. With the current heat wavecountries like France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have started buying air conditioning units like crazy only to find themselves with a problem: China is the main supplier and the manufacturers cannot cope. And I’m not going to say that air conditioners now are geopolitics, but a little… yes. Let’s see it. It’s hot and there is no solution. Two weeks ago I was at Vivatech, in Paris, and this past weekend in London and Liverpool. At 29º, the Apple Watch showed me that in Paris They were on orange alert by heat. 29º in my land is a slightly hot spring day (unfortunately). In the United Kingdom, however, things changed and it wasn’t just incredibly hot: when you entered an establishment it was even worse. Not only do they not have air conditioners because they have not needed them, but have built so that the houses retain heat. A taxi driver told me that the best time of day is when he is working because his house is a sauna, and it makes perfect sense. Spain and France are two of the most affected countriesbut northern Italy, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Germany and the aforementioned United Kingdom are also suffering the consequences. And the problem is no longer that it is hot, but that mortality due to heat has skyrocketed in recent weeks. The solution? The north of Spain and European countries have started buying air conditioning units like crazy, but there is a problem. Exhausted. The middle SCMP He has a representative in Paris and tells how, a few days ago, he approached several businesses to try to get an air conditioner. The answer that he found in several of them, and that some friends reported to him, is that everything was sold. The scene is like something out of an apocalyptic movie, with stores with shelves full of everything except the air conditioning section, which is empty. He started looking at online stores, such as a German website designed so that people can find specific models of these devices and, after searching 1,176 stores, the model he wanted was only in one of them. In these countries where air conditioning is not normal, people go out to cool off in fountains and rivers, and even French President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the population pointing out that it is impossible for them to adapt “to a peak that has no equivalent anywhere in Europe today and that has never had an equivalent in our history.” Perhaps he has become a little heated with that statement, but it reflects that the situation is becoming unsustainable. And you would think that the solution is to start importing more, right? The problem is that it is not that simple. Bottleneck in production. China, as with other everyday devices, is the main manufacturer of air conditioners. Brands such as Haier, Gree, Hisense or Midea are some of those that lead the market, even creating models adapted to European regulations in certain countries (such as the Midea PortaSplit for windows, which makes little noise and has a very low refrigerant charge, ideal for Germany). There are others like Xiaomi (whose model we analyzed last year and a year later I confirm that it is still going great), Dreo with its fans or Dreame that are starting to bring their models to Europe because they have seen that they definitely have a pull. Only in May, esteem that China exported air conditioners worth $3.33 million to France, $2.82 million to Germany and a whopping $7.69 million to the Netherlands. It implies an increase of 186.2%, 69.6% and 139.1% respectively compared to the previous year. This percentage in France is explained if we take into account that, according to French data, only between 18% and 26% of homes had air conditioning until then. Also in logistics. Another problem is that these brands mentioned do not manufacture only for themselves, but for other manufacturers that sell OEM equipment, which implies that the factories are full. It is estimated that China accounts for 40% of global air conditioning exports and, to meet that demand, some manufacturers have begun to work day and night to satisfy European demand. “China cannot ship air conditioners fast enough to meet European demand” They are prioritizing more portable models and split for Europe because they have seen a huge market, but they cannot multiply production indefinitely without incurring overcapacity the rest of the year. Giants like Cainiao, AliExpress or Joybuy they are meeting with a brutal bottleneck because, although they have had units in advance trying to tackle this summer’s situation, they have simply… flown out of European warehouses. And in the installation. Faced with this situation, and seeing that heat waves are increasingly common, Europe estimated in 2024 that expected 70 million AC devices to be installed by 2030. This would mean covering 35% of European homes, but if all these factors were not already a salad of problems full of ingredients, two more are added. The first, the regulation of each city. In Spain we are used to seeing the typical indoor split unit with a compressor hanging from the façade, but there are important heritage restrictions in historic centers that allow drilling into walls or altering the aesthetics of buildings. In neighborhood communities you must ask for permission, there are fines for installation on facades without authorization (in Italy, for example) and the price of electricity doesn’t help … Read more

In the midst of an extreme heat wave, the French have started painting their windows with white chalk. It makes perfect sense

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Yes, we are in 2026. Yes, there are air conditioners, very effective fansair conditioners and even paintings ultra-white (literally) with such a reflective capacity that they help refresh the surfaces on which they are applied. And yet, despite all that, in France there are people who are opting for a very simple method to withstand the heat: painting their windows with chalk. So much so that the demand for blanc de Meudona calcareous clay extracted from the quarries of Meudon, near Paris, has been shot in hardware stores. Looking for solutions at 40ºC. In the middle of the heatwave and with the Paris thermometers fooling around with 40ºCthe logical thing is that people start buying air conditioners, fans, fans and ice bags. In France, however, there is another item that has been as or even more in demand these days: the blanc de Meudona white powder made up mostly of calcium carbonate. The new toilet paper. It is so requested that a few days ago Le Parisian dedicated an extensive report in which he explains that there are craft stores that are depleting their supplies of blanc de Meudon and businesses that have run out of stock. Even people who order it online receive it late. “My wife went to all the DIY stores in Auray and couldn’t find it,” confess to Western France Philippe, a Frenchman who had no choice but to go to another town to buy white chalk. There are those who already compare their compulsive purchasing with what they experienced with toilet paper during the pandemic. @daphneblt I have tested the astuce of the blanc de Meudon 🕵🏼‍♀️🥵 Comme vous j’ai vu passer cette astuce partout sur mon fil d’actualité, although je n’arrivais pas à en trouver, tous les magasins étaient en rupture de stock 🫠 Le dosage : 1 dose of pour + 1 dose of water and form a small liquid to apply on the fenêtres to reflect the light (in théorie) ☀️ And the white of Meudon c’est de la craie donc réduire en poudre des craies ou bien utiliser de la poudre d’argile blanche c’est la même chose 👀 Mon verdict: c’est mieux que rien et je suis passée de 36/37 à 35 degrés dans mon appartement parisien sous les toits (cc Yann Barthès 🤠) orienté sud 🤔 Bon c’est mieux que rien, évidemment si vous avez des recos je suis preneuse, parler de l’aluminium qui apparemment colle aux vitres et de la couverture de survie qui visibly réchauffe les voisins d’en face 😭 Bon courage à tous et allez voter en 2027, vu l’état currentuel des choses c’est le geste avec le plus d’impact qu’on puisse faire (avec le fait de manger moins de viande 🥩) ✨🗳️ One of my first thoughts to Bernard Arnault who probably passed all the same since we are on a yacht, on a private jet, in a climatized villa or on a private island. ☠️ #responsibleconsommation #consommermieux #cunning #blancdemeudon #ecoresponsible ♬ are original – daphneblt Why’s that? He blanc de Meudon It is not a new product. On the contrary. It has always been marketed, although it is normally used in houseworksuch as cleaning cutlery or marble. Also it’s usual that merchants use it to cover their store windows during renovations. Basically the blanc de Meudon It is a calcareous material that is mixed with water to form a whitish paste with a milky texture. These two peculiarities (composition and color) have made it a popular and cheap resource to cool homes in the heat of the heat. It is not a new remedy, but in the last month it has gained followers thanks to articles and videos that sell their supposed benefits. Of course, the method is simple: the clay is mixed with water until it forms a paste and then, with the help of a brush, it is spread directly on the windows. The result is not what is called aesthetic, but its defenders say that it helps to refresh the houses. A couple of degrees less. In reality, there is little surprising about it. White surfaces are known to reflect sunlight and heat. In fact, commercial paints can cool at 1.7ºC the opposite side of the surface on which they are applied and there are researchers working on ‘ultra-white’ versions able to reflect 98% of social radiation. Some studies claim that, with an appropriate combination, daytime temperature could be reduced in more than 7.5º. @abou.addict J’ai testedé un truc à 3€ contre la chaleur, maintenant c’est en rupture partout.. Une astuce simple et qui marche partout: dès que tu as une fenêtre exposée plein sud que tu ne peux pas protéger avec des volets ou un store, le blanc de Meudon fait office de bouclier anti-chaleur. On dilute, on apply on the glass, and the remaining piece beaucoup plus fraîche. Ça marche also bien dans une école, une mairie, un bureau ou chez soi: partout où il ya du vitrage qui prend le soleil toute la journée et qu’on ne peut pas équiper autrement. On availability I posted this astuce l’an dernier et elle a fait plus de 600 000 vues, donc on la repartage avant la prochaine vague de chaleur (et pendant qu’on en trouve encore, parce que ça part en rupture de stock). #canicule #cunning blancdemeudon maisonfraîche #fraicheur ♬ âm thanh gốc – Coach sportif – Coach sportif “An excellent option”. Added to these advantages are those offered by calcium carbonate. “Chalk is primarily composed of CaCO3. It absorbs very little sunlight, even in the visible range, which gives it its white color. Additionally, it does not absorb UV radiation and very little near-infrared light, making it an excellent choice,” comment Xiangyu Li, Purdue researcher, told the BBC. On the France3 channel they assure that only covering the windows with blanc de Meudon can be earned between two and three degrees of indoor comfort. It is not the same as an air conditioner, although it is also much cheaper. … Read more

After having avoided the worst of the great European heat wave, Spain has just launched the “Iberian oven”

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The countdown has begun. If we pay attention to the European weather forecast model, in Spain all the mechanisms have just been activated to find temperatures between 42 and 44 degrees in a good part of the center, west and south of the country. In recent years, rivers of ink have flowed about the idea of ​​the ‘Iberian oven’. Well, now we have it back. What exactly is the “Iberian oven”? Although we associate extreme heat with the eruptions of Saharan air masses, that is not usually the case. Not only because, no matter how hot the air arrives from Africa, it usually comes with suspended particles that block the maximums. But because we don’t need it: Spain has more than enough capacity to turn its own air into hell. And it happens a lot: usually when a mass of warm air (often combined with Saharan air) is blocked over the Peninsula. High pressures, clear skies, almost absolute stability… all of this causes the air to descend, compress and increase temperatures greatly. It is not uncommon for them to exceed 45 degrees in these situations. And is that going to affect us now? The forecast is quite clear: more than 40 degrees in the interior and west with anomalies of more than eight degrees above normal for this time of year. Between Sunday the 5th and Tuesday the 7th there will be peaks of up to 35 in the north. And none of that is going to be the most exasperating: the worst is going to be the nights that, in many places, are not going to drop below 25 degrees. Is it a “heat dome”? Well, the term ‘heat dome’ is a copy of the English “heat dome” and became fashionable after the 2021 pacific northwest episode. In addition to its ‘spectacularity’, it is usually used because it has no technical criteria behind it. Unlike heat waves, anything with a configuration slightly resembling a “heat dome” is a heat dome. Yes, yes, it will be; although it doesn’t help much that it is. Why should we care? Above all, because it is not an isolated event. Europe has not yet left the most severe heat wave on record. The dead are counted in the hundreds (orpossibly in the thousands). Continuing to chain extremely high temperatures is not good news. Image | Tropical Tidbits In Xataka | In 2014, French television imagined August 2050 as hell. This week’s heat wave has already overcome it

If you take these drugs, heat may be more dangerous than you think

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We all know that, when it is very hot, we should drink a lot of water, avoid going outside during the hours of the sun and cool rooms properly. We also know that the copious meals They are not a good idea and may not be the best occasions to eat spicy food. But what we are not always warned about is that there are drugs that increase the risk of getting sick due to heat, so we must take extreme precautions if we take them. It is not about leaving them, but about being aware of the risks that increase to take the necessary measures. A very long list. The list of drugs that increase the risk of heat-related illnesses it’s very long. Some examples are certain hypertensives, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It can also occur with opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antiepileptics, antidiabetics, laxatives, anticoagulants or antihistamines. Does this mean that all these groups of drugs quickly increase the risk of heat stroke? Not necessarily. To begin with, they are not all medications in each group and, furthermore, they do not always affect health for the same reasons. The mechanisms. The main mechanism by which these risks increase is dehydration. For example, some antihypertensive drugs are diuretics. This means that they increase urination, making it easier for dehydration to occur; which, in itself, is more common in a heat wave situation. Symptoms related to impaired kidney function may also occur. When we become dehydrated, the amount of water in our blood decreases, so kidney function can be affected. Therefore, care should be taken with drugs that already affect hydration, as they can increase the risk of kidney failure. On the other hand, there are drugs that affect thermoregulation. If the body is not able to regulate temperature, it is easier to suffer heat stroke. Others affect alertness, so those who consume them may not notice the symptoms of heat stroke. Happens with some benzodiazepines. And something similar happens with drugs that alter the perception of thirst. Finally, there are medications that cause hyperthermia, so that the body temperature rises too high. Sometimes it is bidirectional. Some of these mechanisms can cause the medications themselves to cause more side effects. For example, some NSAID drugs are eliminated through urine, with prior intervention of the kidney, but if it does not function properly due to dehydration, they accumulate, potentially causing toxicity. Furthermore, their way of reducing pain is by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are necessary for renal perfusion, so, with a kidney that does not already function very well, they can be harmful. It is precisely for this reason that, in situations of heat waves extreme, Doctors are advised not to prescribe certain NSAIDs. More cases of increased toxicity. In general, heat can increase the toxicity of some drugs in several ways. For example, dehydration can alter the concentrations of certain drugs in the blood. The difference is usually minimal. However, there are medications, such as lithium, in which the difference in concentration between the therapeutic effect and toxicity is minimal. That is why care must be taken. You should also be careful with cutaneous medications, such as patches, or subcutaneous medications, such as insulin, since if it is very hot they may be absorbed more quickly. People at higher risk. All of this does not affect all people equally. Generally, the risk is greater for older people, patients who live in isolation or with poorly air-conditioned housing and, especially, people who take several medications at the same time. Hydration is essential if you are taking certain medications What should we do? As patients, we must mainly ensure that drugs are stored at the temperature indicated on the package insert. Beyond that, it is usually the doctor who has to pay attention to each patient’s history and determine whether, in a given climatic situation, there may be risks with the drugs taken. In any case, if we have doubts, we can always read the leaflet and/or consult our family doctor about the medications we take. It is important to emphasize that these types of situations are usually extreme. It must be very hot and the person must be vulnerable for some reason. Furthermore, many times these are situations that can be prevented. If the problem is due to the risk of dehydration, the patient is instructed to drink much more water. The same if the problem is that the perception of thirst decreases. Each case is different, so it is important to study them individually, taking into account that they are extreme situations, but that they must be considered if necessary. Image | Magnificent In Xataka | Air conditioning in summer has a double standard of measurement: it cools us but gives us torticollis

Germany and France need to imitate Spain to survive the heat

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Melting roads, bursting train tracks and firefighters watering bridges. While in Spain we deal with the heat by lowering the blinds, in Europe we are looking for solutions to try to survive a heat wave that has blown up the most basic mobility infrastructures. “You should look at Japan”. “You should look at how rail transport works in Japan. There it also reaches 40 degrees in summer and the trains are not constantly cancelled” or “it happened 20 years ago, the air conditioning has failed. (…) the problem has existed for a long time and nothing is done.” There are two comments that reported in one of the local media in Bavaria (Germany). In the text, one of the reporters explains that “the passengers were completely sweaty and accepted the situation with resignation” when it was reported that the regional train in which they were traveling had broken down its air conditioning. With 35 degrees outside and more than 40 degrees inside, the problem was obvious. So evident that Marco Kragulji, spokesman for the German passenger association “Pro Bahn”pointed out that, quite simply, “Germany has problems with its trains when the heat comes.” Click on the image to go to the original tweet Germany, Belgium… German trains with broken air conditioning have been just one of the problems encountered by rail traffic in a burning central Europe. And in the country too Tram tracks have been broken in the city of Essen because of the heat. It is by no means the only case. In Brussels the tram tracks have also jumpedtearing up the asphalt and completely stopping traffic. The causes are simple: train tracks are designed to withstand temperatures typical of countries that used to be colder. Heat expands the materials and ends up splitting them.destroying the infrastructure. Click on the image to go to the original tweet “We recommend that you do not take the train”. In addition to broken tracks, SNCF (the French Renfe) has recommended that “vulnerable users” don’t take the train. And the problems with the air conditioning are constant and have even been the main reason why Dozens of trains were suspended last week. The problem is that the heat is being so extreme that it is putting the trains that have been in operation for more than 20 years to the test. Those trains were designed in a context that, except for the heat wave of 2003, does not exist today. And now the Spanish trains are given as an example, much better armed to withstand extreme temperatures. looking south. In the German media they use the Spanish and Italian infrastructure as an example. They claim that Deutsche Bahn (in this case, the German Renfe) designed the rails for the train to withstand temperatures that are now considered too low. And the problem, they point out in this medium specialized in engineeringit is not the ambient temperature, it is that the tracks, due to the concentrated heat and the passage of the trains, reach much higher temperatures that, now, break the tracks. Generalists focus on the fact that Spanish and Italian roads use colors that reflect the sun to reduce the temperature. But also They praise the air conditioning systems of Spanish trains that are more powerful and with more recurring departures within the cars. Both France and Germany point out, however, that the latest generation trains that are arriving on their tracks already use powerful air conditioning systems to face these new situations. And they are even adding batteries to ensure that the air conditioning remains active in case of a breakdown. Photo | Linus Follert and windy In Xataka | Some roads are literally melting. It is a gigantic problem that is going to get worse.

We believed that air conditioning was the only way to beat the heat. A Mexican architect has been cooling houses with paint for decades

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In 1973, during the oil crisismany countries suddenly discovered that cooling buildings had become an energetic luxury. Bioclimatic architecture then returned to the center of the debate and many looked to old solutions: patios, thick walls, shade and cross ventilation. Curiously, decades before, an architect had already built houses following that logic, obsessed with something that today sounds strangely modern: that a home should offer serenity and refuge from the aggressiveness of the outside. Heat also enters through the eyes. For decades we have assumed that fighting the heat at home involves a almost automatic gesture: lower blinds and turn on the air conditioning. It is a mechanical, direct and, above all, solution. face. Long before that became the norm, the architect Luis Barragan Another idea was already working in Mexico City: that the temperature of a house does not depend only on its degrees, but on how the body perceives it. Its architecture, built between pink, yellow, blue walls and dense shadows, had spent decades exploring something that neuroarchitecture is beginning to support today: color, light and matter. alter physical sensation of space. They don’t cool the air, but they can cool the experience. House-Workshop of Luis Barragán Barragán understood the importance of color. In the Barragán’s workcolor was never decoration. Studies on his architecture show that he treated it the same as a wall or a window: as a structural tool of perception. Its pink, ocher or blue surfaces were designed to react to changing light of the day, transforming the depth, closeness and visual temperature of the space. A pink wall under the intense Mexican sun seems to radiate heat, while a deep blue patio prolongs the feeling of sky and distance. That rrelationship between color and light It was a central part of his work. The architecture moved with the sun, and with it the sensation of the inhabitant also changed. House-Workshop of Luis Barragán The house as a sensory laboratory. His best example remains the Luis Barragán Studio Housebuilt in 1948 and today protected by UNESCO. There everything is designed to modulate the bodily experience: thick walls, closed patios, interior gardens, water, darkness and color. UNESCO stands out precisely that deep dialogue between light, space and matter as one of the great contributions of the 20th century. The house is almost a manifesto of how a home can appeal to all the senses at the same time. Barragán saw it as a living organism, constantly evolving, and in that organism comfort did not depend on technology, but on balance. nterior of the Gilardi House, in Mexico City The half light as a refuge. Barragan distrusted of modern glass architecture and total transparency. While much of the 20th century celebrated large windows and abundant light, he argued for the opposite: the “half light”. He believed that human beings need spaces with shade and darkness to rest, think and concentrate. He said that too much light generates anxiety. In their houses, the windows are reduced, hidden or filtered with colored glass. The light never enters all at once; is dosed. This decision not only changes the emotional atmosphere, it also reduces the thermal load and softens the visual harshness of summer. It is an old and simple solution, almost forgotten in many contemporary homes. Patio of Barragan’s studio house The colors of the weather. The famous Barragán palette It did not come from an abstract theory. Its colors were born of the Mexican landscape. The pink of the bougainvillea, the red of the tabachin, the violet of the jacarandas, the ocher of the earth and the blue of the sky. Everything was part of a natural continuity between architecture and environment. In fact, the call “Mexican pink”developed together with the artist Jesús Reyes, became one of his most recognizable signatures. That color, present at the entrance to his studio or in patios like those of the Gilardi Housegenerates a feeling of calm and depth that continues to surprise those who visit it. Its architecture demonstrates that color can be an emotional regulator of space. Eduardo Prieto Lopez House Tradition already knew this trick. In reality, Barragán did not invent all this from scratch. Much of his work includes centuries of vernacular architecture in Latin America. Painted stucco houses, interior patios, thick walls and breathable materials were part of a climatic logic before electricity. Stucco, for example, allowed the walls they will breathe better in hot climates. Painting them prevented the glare of the white surfaces under the harsh sun. In many places, color not only gave identity, it also helped to better inhabit the heat. Barragán took that tradition and brought it to modern language. San Cristobal block Science explains it. Yes, because recent studies about emotional architecture and embodied perception help put words to what Barragán intuited. Today we know that light regulates circadian rhythms, affects mood and modifies thermal perception. We also know that certain colors can make a room feel cooler or warmer without changing its real temperature. The body first processes a sensory impression and then translates it into comfort or discomfort. Barragán worked precisely on that point. He designed spaces where perception and physiology intersected. An old idea for a new problem. Thus, in the era of air conditioning and skyrocketing thermometers, when cities overheat and energy consumption skyrockets every summer, Barragán’s architecture returns to read with other eyes. Their houses remind us that cooling does not always mean cooling the air. Sometimes means control the light, tame the shadow, reduce glass, use appropriate materials and choose a color well. Are slow solutionssilent and long before modern domestic technology. In that sense, his work seems less like an aesthetic relic and more like an open conversation with the present. Image | Anna BerthoFrancesco Bandarin, Ulysses00, Ymblanter, Steve Silverman, Sarunas Burdulis In Xataka | In 2020, a Chinese billionaire bought the most expensive and luxurious home in London. Then his nightmare began. In Xataka | In 1972 Italy wanted to put an … Read more

The big question in the middle of this terrible heat is whether we leave the air conditioning on or turn it off and turn it on again.

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In Spain, there are about 7.3 million homes with air conditioning and most of them don’t know what kind of voracious and carefree critter they have on their hands. They sense it, of course; They have heard rumors, it is true. But only when summer comes and it is eaten around 30% of the electricity bill It is when they understand the reality behind the ‘fresquito’. That’s when the moral debates also begin. And just when he is going to leave through the door, our protagonist takes control of the air conditioning, directs it towards the split and asks himself… should I turn it off or not? Is it better to turn it off even if when you return the house has become an oven and you have to cool it down again? Or is it true that turning on the device is so expensive that it is better to leave it running all the time? This is the story of how an old piece of advice has become so embedded in people’s consciousness that it continues to operate even though HVAC technology has changed. It is an answer, also, to one of the big questions of the summer. From “don’t turn it off” to inverter… As I say, air conditioners have changed a lot. Old compressors had very high consumption peaks and this is the origin of the idea that turning it off is expensive. But current investors They work in a different way and their speed is modulated so that the starts are smooth. However, this is more of a technical issue. The most important reason to turn off the air is another. Inside and outside. What really rules in all this is the heat outside the house, the heat inside and the insulation that separates it. The first two factors are important because heat enters the house at a rate proportional to that difference. That means, roughly speaking, that if the house is warm, the heat enters more slowly. In this sense, if we are going to go out for a few hours, it is best to turn off the air (or raise the thermostat a lot). He US Department of Energy He says it bluntly: the starting peak lasts seconds and you also have to pay for the machine hours. Is it a good idea to turn it on and off while we are inside? As the OCU recognized, An inverter should be left to regulate only while you are at home. (without constantly turning it on and off by hand) and turning it off “when leaving the room permanently.” In any case, the question that can save us is not so much whether we turn it off or not as how many degrees and how many hours we have it on. The world of air conditioning is full of myths: from those who think that setting the thermostat lower will cool the room faster to those who confuse the legal minimum for public spaces (27 degrees) with what experts recommend (about 24). The last thing to keep in mind is humidity… cooling may have become relatively trivial thanks to inverter technologybut dehumidifying is not so much. So in very humid climates it pays more not to turn off the air because recovering a comfortable environment costs more. But do we turn off or not? It depends on the situation. For a short getaway like picking up bread or running a quick errand, we can leave the air on. The difference is almost non-existent. If we are going to be away for a long time, it is better to turn it off or, at the very least, raise the thermostat. Image | Kien Nguyen In Xataka | Air conditioning in summer has a double standard of measurement: it cools us but gives us torticollis

how to protect pets from heat stroke in the midst of a wave of extreme temperatures

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Nobody likes a record heat wave. Not even the summer fans who like to spend hours and hours on the beach, lying under the umbrella and with the murmur of the waves in the background. When we talk about pets, however, the heatwave can become a death trap. So much so that the veterinary colleges and even the government They remind us that we must be responsible when taking care of our animals in summer. Failure to do so can not only end in an avoidable tragedy, it also leads to consequences legal. That’s why it’s good to review some guidelines. Veterinarians on call. Few groups know the needs of animals better than veterinarians. That is why it is significant that, with the summer having just begun, the Spanish referees have not taken long to publish posts and guides on the same topic: how to care for pets during the dog days. In recent weeks, professionals from Barcelona, Lion, Madrid either Alicanteamong other regions, in addition to veterinarians on a private basis and the bosses from pet food manufacturers, ANFAAC. Even the Ministry of Social Rights launched a guide a couple of years ago “to protect pets from heat waves.” Just like him College of Veterinarians of Madrid (Covelma). The idea is very simple: make people aware that their tolerance to heat and that of their pets does not have to be the same and there are tragedies, such as heat stroke, burns or dehydration that are easily avoidable. It often comes with paying a little attention. Are they so common? There are not many studies on the subject, but we do have some data that helps us understand the insistence of veterinary colleges and authorities. There are those who estimate, for example, that episodes of heat stroke in pets they shoot up 35% during the months of July and August, although some sources say that in the clinics they see up to five times more cases of this type when the mercury shoots. As a reference, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) estimates that during the dog days of 2022 51% of the country’s veterinarians treated animals requiring treatment for heat-related illnesses. A percentage to reflect on. These are worrying data if we take into account that only survivors 50% of dogs that suffer from heat stroke, a critical situation during which their body overheats and even loses the ability to self-regulate temperature. What’s more, it only takes a few minutes (just 15) in that situation for the consequences to be fatal. As Colvema recalls, the normal body temperature of a dog is around 38.5º and at 43º the internal organs begin to fail. It is not that much of a difference: there can only be a 6º difference between the interior of a white car and a black car. What needs to be taken into account? If we want to protect our pets, it is important to keep several key pieces of information in mind. From the outset, as I remembered recently the Italian veterinarian Giuiliano Pellegrini in The Worldthat “dogs and cats have a limited ability to dissipate body heat.” Hence they are “particularly vulnerable” during episodes of extreme heat. When temperatures rise, your cardiovascular system is forced to work harder and if our pet suffers from heart pathologies, they may worsen. Heat also does not agree well with respiratory or kidney ailments, something that we must take into account with older, obese or brachycephalic. In general, to avoid heat stroke, veterinarians recommend four very simple guidelines: avoid the hottest hours, walk in shady areas, always carry water and be attentive to the animal’s behavior. If you are breathing hard, feeling down, and have your tongue sticking out, it is better to pay attention. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, a change in the color of the tongue and choking breathing are reasons for alarm, so you should go to a veterinary clinic. The decalogue of heat. To avoid scares, a few years ago the Ministry of Social Rights published a decalogue with very simple tips. For example, it warns of the risk of leaving animals locked in the car or approaching walks with our dogs more carefully, thinking for example where we will go, what time we will do it, how far we will travel and how to cool down. It is not a minor issue. For example, you may be wearing sneakers or sandals, but (depending on the time of day) your pet may end up walking on heated asphalt. more than 60º and end up with injuries to the pads. Below are the 10 pieces of advice from the Government: Don’t leave your pet in the car. In summer, temperatures soar and leaving your pet alone, inside a vehicle, can end very badly. “A closed car can reach very high temperatures in a few minutes that are potentially fatal,” warns the ministry. The walks, in the fresh air. Try to avoid the hottest hours and make the longest (and most exhausting) walks the first and last thing in the day. For a large, elderly or brachycephalic dog, temperatures exceeding 30º can be dangerous. From 32º, the risk increases for all dogs, so it is better that they do not do exercises that exhaust them. You wear shoes, he doesn’t. Keep it in mind. When walking next to you, your dog passes over manhole covers, paved streets, concrete esplanades, tiles… surfaces that get hot in summer. Veterinarians remember that during critical hours the asphalt can exceed 60ºC. Hydrate yourself, hydrate him. Authorities and doctors insist that in summer we must hydrate. The same thing happens with your furry companion. In summer you have to change their water more frequently and if you take them out for a walk it is advisable to take a bottle and a water bowl with you. Racing for winter. Physical exercise is fine, but during the heat of the heat it is best to avoid excessive exertion. If you want to play ball … Read more

The Dreame T16 Pro Heat arrives, a vacuum cleaner that works with very hot water to remove even the last stain of dirt.

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Nowadays we can find many devices that help us (although many others do not) when cleaning the house. Robot vacuum cleaners, cordless vacuum cleaners and a long list of devices are almost essential in the home. Of course, we cannot forget the floor scrubber vacuum cleaners, which are so effective on many occasions. Dreame is a very well-known brand in this type of devices and has just released a particularly interesting model: the Dreame T16 Pro Heat. Under paper it is very attractive for removing dirt from the house, although its price is nothing less than 629 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A device that allows you to reach the corners of the room The Dreame T16 Pro Heat stands out mainly for its shape, since the brand has managed to manufacture a floor-mopping vacuum cleaner that has a body only 9.85 centimeters thick. In addition, it has a total 180-degree reclining system so that we can clean even in narrow places, such as sofas (if they have long legs) or under the bed. But it also stands out (a lot) because it works with water that reaches temperatures up to 90 ºCthus promising to put an end to the dirt in the house; As the brand itself promises, it is capable of removing grease stains from the roots, such as cream and butter stains. It also works as a conventional vacuum cleaner offering a suction power of 30,000Paa very high figure so that it does not resist dust or pet hair, for example. It also includes an articulated arm called WhaleSweep AI Robotic Arm, which allows you to better clean corners. On the other hand, this device comes with its own charging base, and also Used to clean the roller. In addition, its battery offers a theoretical autonomy of up to 70 minutes in its Eco mode and can be connected to a smartphone through its app to adjust the water flows. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: dreame t16 pro heat ✅ THE BEST The design: It is ideal for leaving almost no gap uncleaned, whether under a sofa or bed or in corners. Your charging basewhich is capable of cleaning the roller. ❌ THE WORST Your autonomysince in maximum power mode it can be very tight depending on which homes. The pricewhich is quite high. 💡 BUY IT IF… It is your first device to clean the house, since it allows you to vacuum and mop comfortably, although manually. It is also interesting for dirt stains that are difficult to clean with a robot vacuum cleaner. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You already have a robot vacuum cleaner or a cordless vacuum cleaner, since there are devices that may fit better with what you need, and that cost much less. You may also be interested roborock Robot Vacuum Cleaner QV 35A Set, 8000Pa Suction, Two Liftable Spin Mops, Anti-Tangle Brushes, Reactive Technology for Obstacle Avoidance, Navigation and Mapping, White The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Rowenta The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Dreame In Xataka | Best handheld vacuum cleaners: which one to buy and 6 + 1 recommended models from just over 30 euros In Xataka | One day you are young and the next you have copied your parents’ vacuum cleaner

While the heat ‘Spanishizes’ Europe at full speed, Spain begins to ask itself a key question: whether it will have to ‘saharize’ itself

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During recent summers, as heat waves have spread their tentacles across the continent, we Spaniards have seen ourselves vindicated. At last, Germany discovered the napFrance would fall in love with the blinds and England would have to admit that dining late has its benefits. It was seen, let’s face it, as a cultural victory. We did not have the other side of the coin: that climate change is a treacherous animal and, while Europe flirts with our habits, customs and solutions, we are being forced to abandon them. The question was not whether we will manage to ‘Spanishize’ Europe; It was whether we are going to have to ‘saharize’ Spain. What we are doing is not enough… In the midst of a heat wave, it becomes evident that many of the things we have been doing no longer work. But the truth is that the heat is no longer “an isolated episode.” According to the State of the Climate of Spain 2025 According to AEMET, the average temperature has risen 1.75 °C since 1961. In 2025, 25 records were broken for warm days and none for cold days (when one would expect five of each) and, as far as we know, summer lengthens by about nine days per decade. The consequences have changed radically and can be seen with a single piece of information: the The need for refrigeration in Spain has multiplied by 2.6 between 1982 and 2022. In this sense, Royal Decree-Law 4/2023 has already certified the obvious: the Spanish working day has to be legally subordinated to the thermometer and to the AEMET notices. In Xataka Experts agree that opening windows at night and closing them during the day is no longer the best strategy against heat. …and, in fact, we are stopping doing many things. The nap is a good example: only 16% do it daily and the 60% of Spaniards never sleep. It is due to the social evolution of the labor market, it is true; but also because at certain temperatures, the nap is no longer restorative and we can only turn on the air conditioning. When talking about ‘Saharanization’ there is a controversial component, of course; but there is also a grain of truth. There is extremely striking thingsfor an average Spaniard (like drinking hot drinks because they help regulate body temperature more efficiently than cold drinks) that make all the sense in the world in a very hot climate. And it is reasonable to think that there are many of those things that we will tend to adopt. It has always been said that Islamic culture tended to conceive houses ‘inwards’ and gave a lot of weight to internal domestic life, but do we really believe that it is a free decision and not a cultural adaptation to a very warm environment? {“videoId”:”x8006fc”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”How to sleep when it’s very hot and you don’t have air conditioning”, “tag”:””, “duration”:”217″} There is more, much more. Because the signs are there. Cities are reacting: Barcelona has gone from 197 climate shelters in 2021 to more than 500 this summerwith coverage of 99% of the population within less than ten minutes walk; Bilbao, for its part, has around 131 spaces. Leisure also changes and Summer bookings to Norway up 37% while the north of the peninsula gains tourists. That is, it is no longer whether we change “habits, customs and solutions” but how we do it. We should talk more about this because that is where a good part of our near future lies. Image | Sam Williams In Xataka |ENT doctors agree: “Sleeping with air conditioning forces the nose to work excessively” (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news While the heat ‘Spanishizes’ Europe at full speed, Spain begins to ask itself a key question: whether it will have to ‘saharize’ itself was originally published in Xataka by Javier Jimenez .

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