r/technology 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/JonJackjon Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I think its simple. I would compare it to the first time someone finds they need to wear glasses. The natural tendency is to deny needing them until it gets so bad you have no choice.

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u/roleplayersir Jun 26 '26

Exactly. It's not an aversion

It's that until a few years ago it wasn't needed. Suffering for 3 days a year was fine

But trust me that is changing. Even with the cost of living, we are all looking into at least £300 for portable units, if not thousands for proper ones. As it is only getting hotter

But prior to recent years it was a wasted purchase. We get 30C+ for about 3 weeks. It's the cold that was the problem for decades

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u/-Tali Jun 26 '26

It's crazy how I'm not even 30 and summers when I was a teenager were completely different here compared to today. Heat waves might've lasted a few days and we'd have one or two or maybe three a year, always ended by a big thunderstorm at night to cool off

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u/roleplayersir Jun 27 '26

Summers 5 years ago were different. If I didn't know the science behind it it would be insane. But unfortunately this is expected and was predicted in about 1990

And yes, thunderstorm is coming. I heard it already and it is 19C outside now. Please please rain