Most of the Swed’s and Finn’s I know that come here in winter swear it’s colder here. It’s clearly not.
I know many people say it’s the moisture. I believe it’s the insulation here. In other cold places you only ever transfer outside between very well insulated and warm places. Here because the insulation seems not up to much, or simply the restaurant door is open or wall missing you can easily transfer from the start of October to the end of May without been in the truly warm environment
We put a ‘Y’ pipe on our gas feed, and have a tube running from the kitchen to a portable cooking ring in the living room.
Of course you’ve got to be careful, but touch wood we’ve not had a problem but a dropped and singed glove in years.
the last time I looked at the math the heating is 10s RMB/month instead of 100s with the AC. We have a small place and heat it most evenings and many weekdays.
Cooking at home works well too.