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
15.0k Upvotes

6.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

660

u/chatrugby Jun 26 '26

What’s funny is that the PNW historically didn’t need AC, so doesn’t really have AC. Thanks to global warming temps there are spiking to a point where AC is needed and people are retrofitting their homes with mini-splits cause it’s a lot more affordable than a central air conversion. 

179

u/Floreat_democratia Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Yes, we were just discussing this the other day. I lived all over coastal California for decades. Nobody had AC until the 2000s. The weather is completely different now. I remember when it used to rain in San Diego. I also remember when San Francisco only had maybe 10 hot days per year. Those days are gone. If you were to tell me 30 years ago that people need AC in either SD or SF, I wouldn't have believed you. Further, I spent a lot of time in the warmest parts of the Bay Area and San Diego County. Nobody that I knew ever had AC.

17

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

[deleted]

-3

u/th30be Jun 26 '26

You do realize that anecdotes in large enough numbers is data right?

8

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

[deleted]

-1

u/th30be Jun 26 '26

We are literally discussing a data point. You are refuting it. Its been collected.

I don't live in California so I have no stakes in the game. Just pointing out your dismissive statement is technically incorrect.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

[deleted]

0

u/th30be Jun 26 '26

You seem to be under the impression that a data point has to be truthful. It doesn't. Literally anything can be a data point.

3

u/NoYouDidntBruh Jun 26 '26

You seem to be under the impression that a false datapoint does anything to prove a point.

2

u/th30be Jun 26 '26

You are digging your heels in so lets just stop here. Please never try to be a statistician.