21 degrees isn't enough: the thermostat war dividing households
From an official 21°C thermostat to bills of €830. Women vs men, insulation tricks and the real cost of every degree of heating.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
21 degrees isn't enough: the thermostat battle pitting neighbours, couples and offices against each other
Every winter, the same war. In offices, homes and hospitals, the thermostat becomes a battlefield. The government's recommended 21°C clashes with the reality of those who feel freezing cold —mostly women— and those who go for 17°C and a jumper. What does science say — and, above all, our wallets?
The cost of each degree: from €240 to €830
A user with a 180 m2 home and gas heating paid €240 every two months with the house at 21°C. But in a semi-detached chalet with propane gas, the two-month bill reached €830, not counting firewood. The difference isn't just the thermostat: insulation, property type and heating system multiply the expense. With electric heating, a flat with a thermal load of 1,200 W can come close to €295 every two months for heating and hot water alone.
Money-saving strategies: from polar fleece to catalytic heaters
Those who prioritise savings have no qualms about lowering the temperature to 17-18°C during the day and 13-16°C at night, relying on warm clothing and duvets. Others turn to catalytic butane heaters, like the Delonghi SBF2, which with a consumption of 107 g/h and €13.30 gas bottles allows a room to be kept at 21°C for less than €30 a month. Investing in window draught excluders (€20-30) pays for itself within weeks. Some also opt for heat pumps or combined systems with a dehumidifier and an electric blanket.
The gender thermal gap: myth or reality?
The recurring debate: women want 22°C, men settle for 20°C. Explanations range from circulation problems to hormonal differences. The fact is that the elderly and babies also need higher temperatures. But in a couple, living together calls for unwritten pacts — and sometimes all-out war, as some admit.
While the government insists on 21°C and budgets are squeezed even for chalets with €900 bills, every household negotiates its own thermal truce. In the end, the ideal temperature doesn't exist: it's the result of a tug-of-war between comfort and budget, warm clothes and pride.
Related debates in the forum
Every winter, the same war. In offices, homes and hospitals, the thermostat becomes a battlefield. The government's recommended 21°C clashes with the reality of those who feel freezing cold —mostly women— and those who go for 17°C and a jumper. What does science say — and, above all, our wallets?
The cost of each degree: from €240 to €830
A user with a 180 m2 home and gas heating paid €240 every two months with the house at 21°C. But in a semi-detached chalet with propane gas, the two-month bill reached €830, not counting firewood. The difference isn't just the thermostat: insulation, property type and heating system multiply the expense. With electric heating, a flat with a thermal load of 1,200 W can come close to €295 every two months for heating and hot water alone.
Money-saving strategies: from polar fleece to catalytic heaters
Those who prioritise savings have no qualms about lowering the temperature to 17-18°C during the day and 13-16°C at night, relying on warm clothing and duvets. Others turn to catalytic butane heaters, like the Delonghi SBF2, which with a consumption of 107 g/h and €13.30 gas bottles allows a room to be kept at 21°C for less than €30 a month. Investing in window draught excluders (€20-30) pays for itself within weeks. Some also opt for heat pumps or combined systems with a dehumidifier and an electric blanket.
The gender thermal gap: myth or reality?
The recurring debate: women want 22°C, men settle for 20°C. Explanations range from circulation problems to hormonal differences. The fact is that the elderly and babies also need higher temperatures. But in a couple, living together calls for unwritten pacts — and sometimes all-out war, as some admit.
While the government insists on 21°C and budgets are squeezed even for chalets with €900 bills, every household negotiates its own thermal truce. In the end, the ideal temperature doesn't exist: it's the result of a tug-of-war between comfort and budget, warm clothes and pride.
Related debates in the forum
- Cheaper heating systems in Spain's coldest regions? · 25 replies
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (68 replies).
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