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Why Europe lags in air conditioning use despite rising heat
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Environment & Climate

Why Europe lags in air conditioning use despite rising heat

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Many European countries, particularly in Northern Europe, have significantly lower rates of air conditioning ownership compared to the United States.
  • This disparity is attributed to historical building designs and a perception of air conditioning as a luxury rather than a necessity.
  • However, rising extreme heatwaves due to climate change are increasing demand for cooling solutions, prompting a reevaluation of air conditioning use.

As Western and Northern Europe grapple with increasingly severe heatwaves, the question of why air conditioning is not more prevalent in the region has resurfaced. While countries like the United States, Australia, and Japan widely utilize air conditioning to combat hot and humid summers, a significant portion of Europe relies on methods such as closing blinds, using fans, and drinking iced water.

Cooling is still too often seen as a luxury. However, heat poses a serious risk to public health. Tens of thousands of people die from the consequences of high temperatures in Europe every year.

โ€” Stein RenneboogStein Renneboog, deputy general secretary of the industry association Eurovent, explains the persistent resistance to air conditioning in Europe despite rising temperatures and health risks.

Data reveals a stark contrast: around 90 percent of U.S. households have air conditioning, whereas in the European Union, this figure hovers around 20 percent. Even within Europe, ownership varies, with Spain reporting about half of households equipped with cooling systems, while Germany's rate is a mere six percent. Historically, many European homes, especially in cooler climates, were designed to retain heat, not to facilitate maximum cooling.

This lower adoption rate was partly due to air conditioning not being considered essential in many European countries until recently. However, the intensifying effects of climate change are making extreme heatwaves a new norm. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that extreme heat is increasing faster than predicted, particularly in Western Europe. Temperatures in June 2026, for instance, were significantly higher than in the late 20th century under similar conditions.

The heat is becoming a serious risk to public health. Tens of thousands of people die from the consequences of high temperatures in Europe every year.

โ€” Stein RenneboogStein Renneboog, deputy general secretary of the industry association Eurovent, highlights the public health implications of extreme heat in Europe.

The surge in demand for cooling is palpable. In Germany, demand for air conditioning and cooling systems rose by 75 percent between 2019 and 2024, the hottest year on record. Despite this trend and the health risks associated with heat exposure, which cause tens of thousands of deaths annually in Europe, resistance to widespread air conditioning use persists. Some social media recommendations still advise against its use, framing it as a luxury. However, experts emphasize that in the face of escalating heat risks, cooling is becoming a public health necessity.

This leads to a sharp increase in demand for electricity for cooling purposes.

โ€” Tommaso AlbertiItalian researcher Tommaso Alberti, collaborating with Klimametar, describes the impact of dangerous heat conditions on energy demand.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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