Air conditioning costs in Poland revealed amid record heat; Europe debates access

Poland, like much of Europe, is grappling with extreme heat, recently experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Słubice registered a high of 40.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, surpassing the previous Polish record of 40.2 degrees set in 1921. This recurring heatwave prompts many to consider installing air conditioning in their homes.

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Having air conditioning in the apartment is no longer a great luxury.

For those contemplating air conditioning, the cost of operation is a significant concern. A journalist from "Business Insider" calculated that running a 3.5 kW air conditioner, with a cooling capacity of 0.84 kW, costs approximately 1.03 Polish złoty per hour. This calculation is based on an electricity price of 1.23 złoty per kilowatt-hour from Tauron. Cooling a room for 8 hours daily during a heatwave could thus cost around 8.24 złoty, potentially reaching 274.20 złoty for 20 such days in a month.

Beyond the initial purchase and installation costs, which for the journalist's unit were 3,000 złoty and 2,000 złoty respectively in 2018, annual maintenance is also a factor, ranging from 200 to 500 złoty. Despite these expenses, the journalist concludes that having air conditioning is no longer a significant luxury.

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if she is elected in the presidential elections, she will implement a grand plan of air conditioning

The increasing frequency of heatwaves in Europe has brought the issue of air conditioning access into public discourse. In France, Marine Le Pen has proposed a "grand plan de climatisation" if elected president, citing public health concerns. The French government also supports air conditioning where necessary, particularly in schools, with discussions underway for its implementation in healthcare facilities and nursing homes. The recent heatwave led to the closure of 1,800 schools in France.

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supports air conditioning where it is necessary