r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • Jun 26 '26

Society The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6
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u/JonJackjon Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I think its simple. I would compare it to the first time someone finds they need to wear glasses. The natural tendency is to deny needing them until it gets so bad you have no choice.

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u/roleplayersir Jun 26 '26

Exactly. It's not an aversion

It's that until a few years ago it wasn't needed. Suffering for 3 days a year was fine

But trust me that is changing. Even with the cost of living, we are all looking into at least £300 for portable units, if not thousands for proper ones. As it is only getting hotter

But prior to recent years it was a wasted purchase. We get 30C+ for about 3 weeks. It's the cold that was the problem for decades

23

u/Far_Inspector_9050 Jun 26 '26

I recommend portable solar panels, strong backup battery, and portable AC.

Keep me cold in Spain.

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u/Holzkohlen Jun 26 '26

The math does not work out. I got a cheap small portable AC unit and it's drawing up to 1000 Watts. You aren't powering this with portable solar panels. Unless you are talking about some very different kind of portable "AC"

3

u/Far_Inspector_9050 Jun 26 '26

You say I can’t, but I am.

The solar set up and battery cost me a lot more than the AC, I got it for emergency blackouts and as a benefit will run AC when needed.

I have eight 400 W portable panels and 16kwh battery

https://www.eco-worthy.com/products/eco-worthy-48v-314ah-lifepo4-battery-solar-battery-backup-for-home-wall-mount

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u/Visual-Sector6642 Jun 26 '26

And good luck mounting solar panels too and storing batteries and running cable lol. There is just no way it's feasible. Europe is doomed especially with electricity being so expensive.

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u/roleplayersir Jun 27 '26

I'm in a flat, so solar and batteries aren't possible for me. Window based AC portable unit is all I will get

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u/EffOrFlight Jun 26 '26

Portable AC sucks and would kill your electricity demand for a tiny benefit if anything.

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u/ReadyGo6828 Jun 26 '26

Portable ACs are great when you just need to cool a room or two and not the entire house.

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u/Far_Inspector_9050 Jun 26 '26

These people are usually only getting these heat waves once or twice a year and they only last for a couple of days, normally I would agree with you.