[wmorgan]

Yes. I read a tweet a while back -- which appears to check out -- that the biggest city in Florida in 1900 was Key West, population 17,000, and Key West is not even on the mainland. The alternative to air conditioning (not to mention modern mosquito suppression) is that people simply would not live in Florida.

As you note, it's not an option to take it easy in the summer because otherwise the plants would cover everything and the roads would be impassable. Somebody has to mow it, and they need a place to cool off.

For another example, the author notes that the fruits are wrapped in plastic, but I don't think he realizes how much faster food spoils in Florida than the UK where he's from. Every bad apple that has to be thrown away is another apple which needs to be trucked in.

[Ma8ee]

Maybe the conclusion should be that people shouldn’t live in Florida because it just takes too much resources.

[Freak_NL]

In that respect DeSantis could be seen as an eco-warrior in disguise: make Florida politically so completely unattractive to live in that people will leave in droves, reducing the state's carbon footprint. A shame that his policies are just as likely to attract a certain type of person too…

[kcplate]

It’s kind of funny that you think that DeSantis has made Florida “politically unattractive” to where people will “leave in droves” when over the last few years there has been such an influx of people to Florida escaping New York, New Jersey, and Illinois to Florida primarily due to excessive taxes and their Covid politics.

In my neighborhood, there aren’t many of us long time multi-decade Florida residents. Most of my neighbors have been Florida residents for less than 5 years and many since Covid. And in my experience in my neighborhood, the types of people that his policies attracted are the type of people who simply got tired of the kind of policies in their former states and municipalities that they perceived were hurting their kids education…regardless of their political leanings. Many of my new neighbors lean left politically, but moved here because our schools were open.

Certainly not saying every DeSantis policy is a winner or popular, but when other states were shut down, killing small businesses, and watching their kids fall behind in education, Florida was open. People noticed and it appealed to them.

[kcplate]

> Maybe the conclusion should be that people shouldn’t live in Florida because it just takes too much resources.

For what it’s worth, I am in Florida and I use very little energy to make my house (2200sqft) comfortable between mid-October and May. I have a highly energy efficient home and between May and October my energy bill runs less than $150. My inside temp rarely goes above 75 degrees. My AC rarely runs at all between 8am and 4pm and then sporadically in the afternoon, but will run a bit a night to essentially “charge the house”.

[hermitcrab]

So was your home designed specifically for energy efficiency? What energy effeciency features does it have? Do you have issues with condensation from the high humidity?

[kcplate]

Yes, it was specifically built to achieve the energy star rating. High efficiency windows, hvac/fresh air system, hybrid water heater, higher r-value insulation, well sealed, etc…. We also opted for tile throughout the whole house which seems to feel cooler on my bare feet and allows me to set the thermostat during the day high enough that our AC generally doesn’t run until later in the day.

Condensation and indoor humidity is a non issue, the AC does a good job keeping things nice and dry.

I have friends with similarly sized (older) homes whose electric bills run about 2-2.5x ours.

[hermitcrab]

Cool (in every sense of the word!). I suppose there is zero chance of that being mandated for new homes in Florida?

[kcplate]

I think the market is demanding it. Most new home builders are touting their energy efficiency.

[leo_r]

yes because Florida is the only place on the face of the earth where the weather is hot

[Ma8ee]

Who suggested that? There are many places that are unsuitable for human habitat. Phoenix is another one.

[303uru]

That is part of the climate reality. Either fusion breakthroughs or a warming to nuclear energy makes the energy point moot, or we have to start living more densely in parts of the country conducive to human life. Economics will make it untenable to live in Florida, we're seeing the start with insurers leaving the state altogether. No insurance = no lender for your mortgage = housing becomes worthless.

[hermitcrab]

>For another example, the author notes that the fruits are wrapped in plastic, but I don't think he realizes how much faster food spoils in Florida than the UK where he's from. Every bad apple that has to be thrown away is another apple which needs to be trucked in.

The apples were in a 24x7 air conditioned hotel. They would last at least as long as UK apples.