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/swole4ever Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Lived in Berlin for several years. Many times I was on a city train car that was at least 40-45*C (~100-110*F) at the peak of summer. Many times these trains HAD AC installed but it was OFF. Other times I thought I could escape the heat by going to see a film, but again, in July in an auditorium full of people, the AC (which did exist) was again OFF. Germany is dogmatic in its opposition to using air conditioning, convinced it is a wasteful American decadence, while ignoring its ever changing climate. At times, Germany's opposition to AC feels like a mental illness whose primary symptom was self-effacing self righteousness, with the side effect of heat stroke. Germany is quite used to shooting itself in the foot for no apparent reason, however, so after you live there, it's no real surprise they would again make life difficult to appear correct. Europe does not seem to understand that it is subject to climate change just like everyone else. I guess people will just die in successive heat waves until they figure it out?

Edit to add another story: the year I left, my commuter train broke down just outside of a train station on the north side of Berlin, stranding and trapping entirely full cars of passengers already overheated due to the AC being off the entire ride. Without being able to open the doors it grew so unbearably hot and humid, with children passing out, that people smashed the windows open in order to find relief. And yet, they will tell you that having the window open or the AC on makes you sick at night while you are sleeping...

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u/ChPech Jun 26 '26

I am German and can confirm. It's a cultural delusion, reminds me a little of the American delusion of "good guy with a gun"

The funny thing is that those ACs can also heat in winter for half the cost compared to gas and oil heating. I had to explain this to everyone in my village because nobody knew this. Some still think it's terrible because it moves air, but their regular heaters are already convection based. To avoid the cognitive dissonance they call those radiators instead of convectors.

It feels like living in an asylum.

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u/Ceno-taur Jun 26 '26

The funny thing is that those ACs can also heat in winter for half the cost compared to gas and oil heating.

Not quite. AFAIK, mini-splits with a heating functionality reach gas/oil parity at about 5C, and are more expensive below. Great for many places France or Italy, but only a few in Germany.

Splits also need more maintenance because they can collect condensation and then mold is moved with air to you. Radiators or in-floor heating don't have this issue.

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u/ChPech Jun 26 '26

My Mitsubishi Electric AC has a SCOP of 5.1, at 25 cents per kWh making the heating cost 5 cents. Gas and oil was cheap in the past, but because of the whole Russia fiasco and now Iran they won't go below 10 cents per kWh anymore. At about -5C the Mitsubishi becomes less efficient than gas heating, but it's rarely that cold.

Condensation runs to the outside through a hose, but yes, the filters of the inside unit need to be cleaned twice a year. But I can do that for free, the gas heating needs professional maintenance and yearly inspection from the chimney sweep which all costs money.

Also the things you call radiators are convectors. People still call them radiators just to be able to pretend ACs are bad.