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I was just curious as to what weather conditions the people here think are suitable and unsuitable to have open windows, assuming that this is a condition you have or would like to have often. Opening windows out of necessity like people without A/C doesn't count, only open windows for comfort and enjoyment of the outdoor air.
Is it a warm and humid summer night? A bone-chilling night when snow is in the air? The classic moderate warmth and sunshine? Cool and cloudy? Raw, windy weather with rain pouring onto the screen? Share your thoughts here. I'll reveal my own conditions after I have more time to think on this subject (I usually sleep with windows open when it's cool or cold).
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Right now when we turn off the air-con at night I open the windows because it's stuffy and hot. I don't to boil just because I don't like to freeze. Most of the year it's not too uncomfortable to keep them closed but I personally prefer some air movement in the room.
Somewhere around 50-70F. Maybe down to 40F if it's sunny out. I had a little wider range when I lived in Tampa because it was such a relief when it was cool enough to have them open, so it was basically anything below 75F.
The other day we burnt some popcorn in the microwave and had all the windows open at about 15F, but that's not really the same thing.
I usually always leave the window open a crack in my bedroom even if it's below freezing outside because I like to add in a bit of extra humidity in the room. If I leave the windows closed and crank up the heat then the air inside my bedroom gets drier than the Sahara and I usually wake up during the night often quite thirsty because my mouth is dry.
I moved here on August 2nd and the window in my room was open until some time in early October I suppose. For most of that time it was low to mid 70s during the day and 50s at night.
I'll sleep with my window open down to about freezing (not all the time, but sometimes). It's not open very much during the winter, but I do occasionally open up the house even when it's only in the 30s or 40s for the daytime high (furnace turned off of course!). General range would be between 40-80 F. It's especially great when there's a nice breeze. Up to a dry 85 F with a breeze is tolerable, though it does start getting uncomfortable.
During the summer, I absolutely love opening up the house after a stretch of heat and humidity. Almost everyone is very happy when a cool front passes through, or when the first cool air of the season arrives.
I live in a mild climate zone in southern california where use of heating or air conditioning is minimal. One or more open windows are part of the routine for at least a portion of the day almost every day.
Late November to early March is the cool weather season, so I rarely leave windows open at night during those months. However it is often warm outdoors in the afternoon to open a window or sliding door for several hours to refresh the indoor air quality.
Late March to early November, I usually leave at least one window open 24 x 7. I live in a one bedroom apartment, so I only have 3 windows and one sliding screen door. This works fine to keep my place comfortable (above 65F and below 78F) most of the time with no AC or heat.
On a sunny day in the winter it can into the upper seventies in my south-facing living room (which is full of windows). If it gets any warmer I might open a window if I want to sit in that room, but I'd prefer to store that heat for the cold winter night to come (that's what passive solar in the winter is all about).
During the warm part of the year I'll open my (upstairs) bedroom window if the high temp. for the day is over 80. I neither have nor want AC so the upstairs windows stay open all summer.
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