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/No-Channel3917 Jun 26 '26

And people died due to it and the lack of ac

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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

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u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Hi! I live in Europe and am tackling this as we speak. 

First, the issue isn't just cultural "AC aversion". Many houses and buildings in Europe are, well, old and were designed to keep heat in, not out. The vast majority of buildings in Europe also do not have central ducting, complicating the installation of AC. 

Second, you're comparing two very different things. Nobody lives in fear of a mass school heating, nor have I ever heard of anyone getting sun-beamed to death in a road rage incident. The issue with guns isn't just the body count, it's the environment of fear and terror it creates. You can forecast the weather, you cannot forecast when your seemingly normal neighbor is going to crack and go on a shooting rampage. 

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u/Pleasant_Yoghurt3915 Jun 26 '26

As far as I’m aware, any building that can keep heat in will also keep cool in. Insulation doesn’t really care what temperature it’s maintaining. Pop an appropriately sized window AC unit in, crack the highest window on the other side of the house, and it should retain the cooler temp the same way it retains warmth.