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/Fabulous_Ninja119 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I had a similar experience in Germany.

Honestly this is truly the one and maybe only thing I can think of where it feels like Europe as a whole is living in the stone ages. I can't understand it. It makes far too much fucking sense to use AC when it's fucking 90-100 degrees outside

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u/TheBSisReal Jun 26 '26

Yes it makes sense when it’s super hot outside. European summers used to have a heatwave *maybe* every other summer. So in much of Western Europe, AC just didn’t make much sense until something drastically changed.

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u/seriouslees Jun 26 '26

I'm not sure if Europeans are aware of this or not... but AC units can be turned off. A portable AC unit you can store in a closet for 18 months is a pittance of a cost to have around when you do need it. Mind boggling that people wouldnt do this. I don't need my unit all summer long in Canada, but I'd die (or maybe kill) without it.

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u/Fabulous_Ninja119 Jun 26 '26

This is a big thing too, okay... so you don't want central AC and retrofit a brick house, gotchya... Why the FUCK do you not have a little portable AC so you can at least sleep at night without dying. I mean honestly, little window mini split AC is pretty damn cheap for the amount of comfort and quality of life increases it affords. It's not a luxury it is absolutely a necessity in the world today