science

People keep the heating on at 25°C to match temperatures enjoyed by our ancient human ancestors – Daily Mail


Why we keep the heating on at 77°F: People try to match the temperature in Africa enjoyed by our ancient human ancestors, experts say

  • Heating bills may be rising because they’re trying to match the Africa’s heat
  • For evolutionary reasons, the climate may be what we are most comfortable with
  • In American homes at least, the thermostat is also set similarly to countries like Ethiopia, Namibia and Angola

The average indoor temperature in the homes of western people is 77F (25C)

The average indoor temperature in the homes of western people is 77F (25C)

If you live with someone who keeps turning up the thermostat, have some patience this winter.

The heating bills may be going through the roof because they are trying to match the temperature in Africa, a study has found.

The average indoor temperature favoured in western people’s homes almost exactly mirrors the climate in Kenya, which averages 77F (25C).

Unconsciously it seems people may be trying to recreate the conditions of our ancient human ancestors, many of whom started off in Africa before moving to colder parts of the world. 

For evolutionary reasons, that climate may be the one in which we are most comfortable.

Researchers led by North Carolina State University measured the temperature in 37 households for more than a year.

They found the average indoor temperature across the seasons hit 25.35°C, which is less than a third of a degree away from the average outdoor temperature of 25.06°C in west central Kenya. 

In American homes at least, the thermostat is also set similarly to countries like Ethiopia, Namibia and Angola.

The study, led by Dr Michael Just, states that there is a simple theory, ‘namely that we tend to attempt to recreate the conditions from which we evolved, before we had the ability to make homes – the ones to which we our physiologies are adapted.’ 

Ever since we invented clothing, around 20,000 years ago, we have been trying to make ourselves warmer.

Despite being able to survive in freezing conditions, humans prefer a degree of ‘thermal comfort’, and experts say our heated, insulated homes have narrowed the range of temperatures we are comfortable in.

As the home is the ‘ecological realm’ where people spend most time, researchers wanted to see how warm we keep them.

Volunteers put devices on shelves and bookcases in their homes to let the team of experts take hourly temperature and humidity meaurements, finding the average home ranges from 22 to 34°C in summer and 8 to 22°C in the winter.

The average indoor temperature favoured in western people's homes almost exactly mirrors the climate in Kenya, which averages 25°C (73°F). Unconsciously it seems people may be trying to recreate the conditions of our ancient human ancestors

The average indoor temperature favoured in western people’s homes almost exactly mirrors the climate in Kenya, which averages 25°C (73°F). Unconsciously it seems people may be trying to recreate the conditions of our ancient human ancestors

Across the seasons, the average temperature and humidity in people’s houses were similar to global climate records for Kenya.

The study states: ‘When humans adjust the climates within their homes, it is unlikely that most are consciously attempting to emulate the climatic conditions of some outdoor location in another country or continent.’ Nonetheless the temperatures chosen match parts of Africa where many fossils have been found for our ancient human ancestors.

It may be that we are happiest at the temperatures ancient humans used to live in, before they spread to colder parts of the globe and were forced to make fire, shelter and clothing.

The temperatures in our homes also match those at which the primates we are related to are most comfortable.

The full findings were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

If you live with someone who keeps turning up the thermostat, have some patience this winter. The heating bills may be going through the roof because they are trying to match the temperature in Africa, a study has found

If you live with someone who keeps turning up the thermostat, have some patience this winter. The heating bills may be going through the roof because they are trying to match the temperature in Africa, a study has found

WHEN DID HUMAN ANCESTORS FIRST EMERGE?

The timeline of human evolution can be traced back millions of years. Experts estimate that the family tree goes as such:

55 million years ago – First primitive primates evolve

15 million years ago – Hominidae (great apes) evolve from the ancestors of the gibbon

7 million years ago – First gorillas evolve. Later, chimp and human lineages diverge

A recreation of a Neanderthal man is pictured 

A recreation of a Neanderthal man is pictured 

5.5 million years ago – Ardipithecus, early ‘proto-human’ shares traits with chimps and gorillas

4 million years ago – Ape like early humans, the Australopithecines appeared. They had brains no larger than a chimpanzee’s but other more human like features 

3.9-2.9 million years ago – Australoipithecus afarensis lived in Africa.  

2.7 million years ago – Paranthropus, lived in woods and had massive jaws for chewing  

2.6 million years ago – Hand axes become the first major technological innovation 

2.3 million years ago – Homo habilis first thought to have appeared in Africa

1.85 million years ago – First ‘modern’ hand emerges 

1.8 million years ago – Homo ergaster begins to appear in fossil record 

800,000 years ago – Early humans control fire and create hearths. Brain size increases rapidly

400,000 years ago – Neanderthals first begin to appear and spread across Europe and Asia

300,000 to 200,000 years ago – Homo sapiens – modern humans – appear in Africa

50,000 to 40,000 years ago – Modern humans reach Europe 

 



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