Noticed how badly built hotels were in Alaska. How it is living in with one-glass windows in midwinter? I have 3 layers in Helsinki, and it was little bit chilly when it was -35°C in 1985.
Historically the UK has been bad for insulation/glazing/energy performance of our homes. In fact, there are ongoing protests at the moment by a group called "Insulate Britain" who want the government to mandate better standards to force older buildings to be upgraded.
Anywhere built and most places upgraded since the 90s should have at least double-glazing, but there are lots of older homes which still have single-pane windows and poor insulation in the roof and walls. Sometimes this is because the building is considered historic or in a "conservation area" (neighbourhood which is considered historic) and there are restrictions on what changes can be made, but often it's just because "that's how it is" here.
I now own a place with triple-glazed windows and doors, and this week when it's been around 12 degrees, I've had the doors open to let air in as it's too warm inside (up to 26 degrees), while my colleague who owns a Victorian-era house which has not been renovated since the 1960s has complained that he needs his heating on already.
Same here. 3 layer glass in Norway, with AC and ventilation system. 250mm isolation in the walls and 350mm under the roof. Because of this I have almost no energy bill. It was expensive, though.
