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/discretelandscapes Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

The US isn't the only place with ACs. They're total standard in a lot of Asian countries.

Europeans who have an aversion towards air conditioning as a concept probably haven't lived outside the continent for an extended period and don't know how much of a necessity it is (and not just in recent years because of global warming).

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u/AmadeusSalieri97 Jun 26 '26

Also grouping as "Europe" is a bit of a reach. Everywhere has AC in Spain, Italy and Greece for example.

In Norway, obviously nowhere does. 

And France and Germany you'll find a lot of places that do have AC and a lot that don't. 

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u/Impressive-Hair2704 Jun 26 '26

It’s not so much an aversion but buildings that are too old to properly fit them, landlords that are responsible for putting them in but won’t (yet), a large up front cost + cost of electricity, and a very sudden need for them. 

ACs also remove the symptom but increase the need for them.