[plufz]

In which nordic country do you live? Im swedish and we have centralized water heating, and to me it sounds insane that people where you live does not have gate valves. The only time I heard of someone without that was when a friend changed the heating system in his building, and that was like a week of high temp. 30 degrees inside during winter sounds totally insane. Here we discuss that we should lower from 23 in the winter to save resources.

[butteroverflow]

Well, here's what people over here tend to live in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khrushchyovka

These buildings were developed in massive numbers back in post-WW2 years, across the whole Soviet Union. with the task to move people out of barracks in some sort of relatively comfortable housing. Back then there wasn't much money to spare (still isn't). They typically have pretty bad insulation and are built out of, as we say, "cardboard" walls.

When it's cold enough outside (-35°C and lower), you can see the energy losses with a naked eye, as hot air escapes through every crack in the building (and there are a lot of them). No need for thermal cameras.

People over here just don't give a fuck about nature. Now it's the middle of summer, it's +33°C outside. I am sitting in the office with two ACs running at full capacity and with all windows open, because "there isn't enough air". I tried arguing with this, but it's pretty difficult to go against all my coworkers at once. It's a cultural problem, and I have no idea how to fight this.

Thanks for the sanity check, though, at least I know it's not me going crazy.

[SXX]

  > I am sitting in the office with two ACs running at full capacity and with all windows open, because "there isn't enough air". I tried arguing with this, but it's pretty difficult to go against all my coworkers at once.

What is your solution? To close windows and enjoy excess CO2?

When people complain about not having enough air it's almost always mean that ventilation system in building is insufficient and there in fact too much of CO2.

[butteroverflow]

Sure. They don't seem to have any problems in the middle of winter, when windows stay fully closed for at least 3 months each year.

About a half also smokes, and then they "don't have enough air".

By the way, the office faces an arterial road, as they are called, with heavy traffic right outside. When you open a window, it fills very quickly with traffic fumes. This gives me persistent headaches almost every day.

Is it really better than CO2?

[SXX]

  > They don't seem to have any problems in the middle of winter, when windows stay fully closed for at least 3 months each year.

It's very much possible that during the winter ventilation performs better since there is hot air inside and cold outside. Or your office building just have similar hot air loss as your housing and it's helps to remove excessive CO2. Thermodynamics huh.

Also oxygen consumption and overall feel can be affected by temperature of environment.

  > About a half also smokes, and then they "don't have enough air".

No surprise since heavy smoker lungs and hearts often perform worse and they going to be more sensitive to CO2. It's even worse if they're overweight or have other health issues.

  > Is it really better than CO2?

I cannot say without some kind of measurement, but I guess yeah: even if there is massive road outside it's could still be better than staying with constantly high CO2. It's can be worse long-term for your health, but to be productive human brain need oxygen and many people more sensitive to CO2 level than others.

Personally I don't smoke and have healthy lifestyle, but I still extremely sensitive CO0 and without proper ventilation I just can't work efficiently if at all. So any room I stay in will always have open window no matter if there is AC working or not.

So it's great that you don't have same issue, but please keep in mind that people not just imagining things. Yeah they can quit smoking and watch their health, but CO2 is still extremely important. If you don't believe me rent some air quality meter and check it for yourself.

[butteroverflow]

Thanks for the detailed response. I don't deny that it might be difficult for someone to work without ventilation. I simply find the air outside extremely irritating to my throat, nose, and upper airways. This "fresh air" frequently gives me headaches, which rarely happen if it is kept outside. I wasn't prone to headaches at all before I started working here. I rarely open windows at home and feel fine. It seems to be a no-win situation, and the better solution for us is to part our ways, which I am working on.