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Do Europeans typically set heating to higher temperatures in the winter compared to Canadians and Americans if the temperature at a given moment is similar?

Last Updated: 25.06.2025 00:05

Do Europeans typically set heating to higher temperatures in the winter compared to Canadians and Americans if the temperature at a given moment is similar?

I know there are lots of Germans who love being self-flagellant with temperatures in their internal surroundings. Why have the heat a a comfortable temperature when you can put on two sweaters and wrap yourself in a blanket? Of course, riding in the sauna-like conditions of the S-Bahn in summer, when they actually have air conditioning, just proves how much they can take it. You sit there, sweating profusely, and wonder why many of your fellow riders haven’t discovered the simple pleasures of deodorant. It’s delightful.

At the same time, I’ve never been in a Canadian home in winter where it would be possible to safely hang meat, in quite the same way. It’s Canada, their big-time sports often involve ice; they know they can take the cold and don’t have to prove anything. (to anyone, even themselves).

They are a stalwart people, and love to show it, if even to themselves. Look at any transit stop, or many railway stations, they’re open to the elements as if they’re located in South Florida.

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Then again, energy is very expensive in Germany, so to underline this dogged determination to be uncomfortable in any condition, they closed down their nuclear plants so that energy can be that much more expensive. They are a truly impressive people.

Original question: Do Europeans typically set heating to higher temperatures in the winter compared to Canadians and Americans if the temperature at a given moment is similar?

I’m not sure about “Europeans”. Europe is a very, very big place with an amazingly varied set of peoples.

Has anyone experienced an out of the body experience, as a child, years before you had ever heard the term or understood the implications?