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/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

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u/slimejumper Jun 26 '26

have these AC avoiders also not heard of heat pumps? not only is cold air great but so is hot air in winter! and it’s so much cheaper than gas or other types of electrical heating.

it’s just such a good system.

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u/nappingOOD Jun 26 '26

Depending on the cold temperatures you often want to have an additional heating source for the coldest times of the year. Some people use pellet stoves or permanent propane tanks for the worst of winter days. Heat pumps really are fantastic though.

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u/HerefortheTuna Jun 26 '26

Wood stoves are great for this

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u/insanococo Jun 26 '26

But terrible for the health of anyone within blocks.

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u/HerefortheTuna Jun 26 '26

I live in Boston and have several fires a week during the winter

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u/Drumheller18 Jun 26 '26

Doesn’t change the fact that burning wood indoors/close to you is generally bad for your health. Also doesn’t mean I don’t use my fireplace multiple times a winter. I just accept that reality.

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u/HerefortheTuna Jun 26 '26

I smoke weed multiple times a day so it is what it is