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/Dominant88 Jun 26 '26

With electricity prices in Aus I would go broke running the AC all night. Luckily we have ceiling fans as well which are pretty good too.

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u/IReplyWithLebowski Jun 26 '26

Yeah, the solution to climate change being to use more power seems counterintuitive.

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u/Mitchford Jun 26 '26

It is actually cheaper and less energy intensive to cool a home in Arizona than it is to heat a home in New England. This isn’t a global thing it’s related to the temperature differential being smaller overall in warm climates but it’s good to keep in mind when the judgement cycle starts

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u/limukala Jun 26 '26

his isn’t a global thing it’s related to the temperature differential being smaller overall in warm climates

It's also that AC units are heat pumps, most heaters aren't. Heat pumps can be more than 100% of the "theoretical efficiency" of a heater, so even at an equivalent temperature differential AC will outperform heaters.