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But why weren`t European households already equipped with air conditioning? And will Europe fall victim to an “American-style dependence on air conditioning,” as climate scientist Stan Cox has warned? Second, electricity is expensive. Long before the war in Ukraine plunged the continent into an energy crisis, electricity prices in the EU were more than double the US average, while incomes are lower. In 2016, for example, retail electricity prices in Germany were about three times higher than in Texas. This is partly because the continent is investing heavily in clean energy. Ironically, Bourquin said, the coming gas crisis could actually help air conditioning contribute to the mainstream — by encouraging Europeans to replace gas heaters with energy-efficient heat pumps that can also run air conditioning in the summer. While Europe can adapt to global warming by improving to keep it cool, we in the United States could benefit from taking a page from the European manual, using air conditioning a little less and working harder to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency gains and regulatory standards can reduce the impact of air conditioning systems on the environment while lowering the temperature. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that a new central air conditioner can achieve savings of 20% to 40% in energy costs compared to a 10-year-old air conditioner, and new efficiency standards for air conditioning will come into effect in 2023. Nowadays, new homes in the hottest parts of the continent are of course equipped with climate-compatible heat pumps.

Still, you can see the emphasis on architecture before technology in the UK`s new building codes adopted this summer. In the new code, a transversely ventilated apartment is the legally recognized category. There are limits for window surfaces and instructions for overhanging them to shade them when the sun is high in the sky. More interestingly, the code says that manufacturers must show that “all practical passive means of limiting unwanted solar gains – that is, the heat of the afternoon sun – were first used before the introduction of mechanical cooling.” The air conditioning system is explicitly a tool of last resort. There are a variety of reasons for the general lack of air conditioning in Europe. Electricity costs more in Europe, with prices in Germany and Denmark being more than twice as high as in the US Average incomes are similar between the US and parts of Europe, but in other parts wages are much lower than in the US, making air conditioning less affordable. Climate awareness makes many reluctant to use technologies that contribute to climate change. Other cultural differences may also play a role, with some attributing all sorts of diseases to moving air. Third, the urban heat island effect, which is stronger in Europe`s denser, greyer cities than in America`s suburban metropolises. Even when they depend on clean energy, air conditioners heat the outside air just as they cool the inside. This means that the comfort of those who have air conditioning feeds the discomfort of those who do not.

Researchers at France`s National Center for Meteorological Research have concluded that if Paris doubles its air conditioning by 2030, it could raise outdoor temperatures in the city by 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, policymakers have been very reluctant to encourage the introduction of air conditioning, except in vulnerable places such as nursing homes. If you know me, you know that my love for air conditioning knows no bounds. When booking a trip, I make sure that my hotel room has it, regardless of the season or destination. Fifth, there are the holidays. Many Europeans go on summer holidays. In France, even climate installers are on vacation. Nearly three out of four Europeans said they wanted to travel this summer. Those who stay at home participate in the continent`s rich tradition of public space, such as beer gardens, café terraces and public parks. Or take a nap – sleep during the hottest part of the day. While we haven`t yet seen a large hotel chain introduce fees for guests who choose to use air conditioning in their rooms, it`s not out of the realm of possibility. Finally, apartment owners in some major U.S.

cities, including New York City, charge tenants for using their air conditioning windows during the summer. The Netherlands is considered the smallest market for air conditioning systems in Europe.