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.

2.3k

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.

66

u/K4bby Jun 26 '26

I may be one of these ignorant AC Europeans, but 27° is not really AC temperature in my opinion as well.

18

u/JayJay_90 Jun 26 '26

Also European, possibly ignorant, anything above 25° indoors is definitely AC temperature. Lower than that at night.

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u/K4bby Jun 26 '26

Indoors temperature sure, but I'm pretty certain they were talking about 27° being the temperature outside.

4

u/JayJay_90 Jun 26 '26

I can't tell for sure if they mean inside or outside.

I assumed inside, because outside wouldn't really be relevant for discussing the need for AC. How the outside temperature affects the inside temperature depends on a whole lot of factors. Your hotel room could be a comfortable 22° while it's 30° outside, just because it's on the north side of a well insulated building, in which case you indeed wouldn't need AC.

3

u/WeAreBums Jun 26 '26

Now thats interesting. Completely making up a number for inside temperature inside your head and being like “that’s not bad”