Simply put, those who can afford to retrofit are in the same cohort of society as those who can afford to overheat their homes once retrofitted. T-shirts and shorts being worn in January indoors is no longer reserved for tropical climates for those who can afford it. Otherwise the divide between those who can afford this comfort and convenience and those who cannot will continue to increase. At that point we should all be equally able to wear T-shirts and shorts in January no matter what the weather outside. I can now understand why heat pumps and solar panels are found in more affluent areas.

Source: The Irish Times March 17, 2026 16:32 UTC