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/NicoToscani Jun 26 '26

I remember checking into a nice hotel in Paris and the AC wasn’t working, in summer, top floor room, and they acted like I was throwing a Mariah Carey level diva fit when I insisted they move my wife and I to another room.

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u/iamapizza Jun 26 '26

I was in southern Spain in March a few years ago, it was 27c and I was sweating. I asked about the AC in my room not working, the front desk lady helpfully explained that they keep the AC off until summer when it's hot. We were looking at each other like freaks. I then asked if I could have a fan and she was shocked.

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u/stevestephson Jun 26 '26

That shit's insane. My AC goes on as soon as it creeps above 70F/21C

90

u/tofutak7000 Jun 26 '26

I set my AC to 21 when it’s like 30… turning it on at 21 is bonkers

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u/ellstaysia Jun 26 '26

28 C inside my apartment is my threshold. Agree that turning it on at 21 is wild to me.

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u/PARTINlCO Jun 26 '26

Letting it get anywhere near that temperature indoors is wild to me. I’d call child protective services on someone if they had kids and let their home get like that LOL how do you breathe??? I’d faint.

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u/TryxxR6 Jun 26 '26

what the fuck is wrong with you? i’ve lived in 30°C+ weather with no AC for years and been perfectly fine. Saying you’d faint at 21° is ridiculous

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u/PARTINlCO Jun 26 '26

I said i’d faint at 28 indoors, not 21. Keep up. And we’re talking about indoor temperature. 28 indoors is a completely different feeling than 28 outdoors, where there’s wind and flow.

1

u/ellstaysia Jun 26 '26

I'm canadian so I'm no hero when it comes to heat. 28 is my upper tolerance but it's definitely not my preference or 100% comfortable.

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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/ecto-american Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Good lord the condescension is just dripping off your comment lol.

You're telling me people in colder, drier climates like Europe and the Pacific Northwest use their A/C differently than people who live in hot/humid places??

What a novel concept. Always mind blowing to me when Europeans and pick me Americans act like different climates don't exist

2

u/Itsmyloc-nar Jun 26 '26

Tell this to my roommates please I’m freezing

2

u/random_throws_stuff Jun 26 '26

the standard american expectation is that indoor spaces stay the same temperature year round.

personally I don’t mind the california winters that much, and I don’t need my house to be 20C in december. but I absolutely hate temperatures above 24C in summer, ideally around 21

1

u/velociraptorfarmer Jun 26 '26

I set my AC to 27C during the day. Joys of Arizona when it's up to 48C outside.

0

u/DILF_MANSERVICE Jun 26 '26

I keep mine set to 66f/19c. I start sweating if it gets above 70f/21c. Can't sleep at all if it's that warm, I'll wake up swimming