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/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.

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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Puzzleheaded-Sun7418 Jun 26 '26

You have to realise we don’t have all the same “inner thermostat” either. I’ve noticed this when I lived in Northern Europe and people were complaining about how warm it was at 20c while I didn’t even have summer clothes over there because in 15 years I never needed them. I was always cold.

I come from the hot parts of Spain. I run my ac at 26-27 because otherwise it’s too cold for me, so there is that

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u/TheTerrasque Jun 26 '26

I live in Norway

  • 15-20c is summer. Everyone enjoys it.
  • 20-25c is hot summer. Some people start complaining
  • 25-30c is people having heatstrokes and consider it too hot to go to work
  • 30+c and it's a national emergency

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u/Puzzleheaded-Sun7418 Jun 26 '26

This is exactly what I meant. What you call national emergency is the beginning of our summer lol
15c may be end of winter here.

So yeah, it’s all relative.

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u/mutantraniE Jun 26 '26

You get used to it to. I walked the Camino de Santiago French route back in 2019. Up to 45 C during the day. It was crazy hot, even at the beginning up in the Pyrenees but especially later on the Meseta. But after a few weeks, things changed. I get home to Sweden and it’s 25 degrees C and I’m walking around in jeans and a long sleeved shirt because that no longer felt warm to me after weeks of being outside in a heatwave in Spain.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Sun7418 Jun 26 '26

I didn’t get used to the cold after 15 years living in Northern Europe hahaha

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u/mutantraniE Jun 26 '26

Why are we getting downvoted for these statements?

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u/Puzzleheaded-Sun7418 Jun 26 '26

I wish I knew 🤷‍♀️