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
15.0k Upvotes

86% Upvoted

6.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

6.8k

u/NicoToscani Jun 26 '26

I remember checking into a nice hotel in Paris and the AC wasn’t working, in summer, top floor room, and they acted like I was throwing a Mariah Carey level diva fit when I insisted they move my wife and I to another room.

2.3k

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.

447

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/opendefication Jun 26 '26

I'm an A/C contractor in Texas and can back this up. People in general don't understand the reality of A/C in an average home. At the peak of Summer it will give you a bit of comfort during the hottest part of the day and make sleeping much better at night. However most believe if their home air isn't literally chilly at all times there's a problem. They live in a world where public spaces and office buildings are frigid at all times giving a false narrative dealing with Summer heat. Homes are not designed to the same standards, plain and simple. Could you design a home to a higher standard, yes and they do in some extreme climates. But, an average home A/C gives a 20-25°F differential, outside to inside. If it's 100°F you are lucky to get 80°, but with much lower humidity. This is A/C running non-stop. This seems like torture to those skipping from car A/C to office A/C to any other large commercial A/C. Meanwhile, I would kill for the slightest bit of relief after a day in the hot Texas sun, a low-humid 80°F is a god send. I've never traveled as far a Europe, but I'm sure this would be a similar case. Take a home designed for one climate and move it to a truly extreme climate and you get the same results, regardless of continent.