[DoofusOfDeath]

> New buildings are rather efficient in US. The problem is old buildings that use 5X the energy for HVAC.

I was describing my home renovation project to someone who lives in Brazil. I don't how true this is for that entire country, but she said that it's very uncommon for Brazilian homes to have insulation.

[fyfy18]

This is the same for many homes in Spain and Portugal too. For most of the year it's warm enough outside and you can be comfortable without AC (especially if you are in an older building with thick stone walls), but then for the one or two months of winter it is so cold inside, even though it may only get down to 10C (50F) outside. Most houses rely on resistive electric heaters (if they have any) which end up being very expensive to run.

I live in a modern house in Northern Europe, and we don't even turn our heating on until it gets below freezing. Because we have good insulation, only then it starts to drop below 22C (72F) inside.

[gallegojaime]

Completely true, many old homes in Madrid are freezing in the winter. New homes are more regulated in efficiency, however. I lived in a new A-rated flat with sophisticated central heating and thermosolar, paying 500€/mo for the actual home and about 10€/mo for heating.

[pmontra]

Adding to this, I spent a week in a A-rated house. 30+ C outside and I never even looked for the remote of the air conditioner.