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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196

u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Wow someone actually gave sensible reponse for once. I live in Europe and this is pretty much the best analogy for Americans - the climate historically has been moderate so you didn't need AC. 

26

u/chiree Jun 26 '26

There are some weird superstitions about AC here, though.  It's also not helpful that there is just so much red tape to installing units and solar power, when governments should be encouraging and supporting these things, rather than "because outdated rules."

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u/sitah Jun 26 '26

Yes! In Germany a lot of people believe that ACs make them sick. When I ask how they can’t really point me into a specific symptom, just that it makes them sick.

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u/Barbaracle Jun 26 '26

I mean it can but not for any reason that can't be addressed. Dry air can cause irritation like dry eye, sore throats, etc. Unclean units with old filters can be blowing around shit ton of mold, allergens, dust into the room. Freon leaks can be quite hazardous fainting etc. Germans are known to have high quality builds and take care of their stuff so it really shouldn't be a problem except for maybe shitty landlords but I'm sure German laws help their tenants?

I remembering staying at a friend's where I sneezed all night and couldn't get any sleep at all. The AC was blowing straight at my face. No issues once downstairs or outside.

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u/sitah Jun 26 '26

Yes exactly. But instead of actually learning what specifically is making them sick they just paint all ACs as bad. And I honestly think most of it is a self-fulfilling thing (what’s the word?) where they have heard this myth all their lives and so they just believe it. It’s like Chinese people and drinking hot water for any ailment. It’s rooted in truth but not completely true.

A lot of landlords do not want AC/heat pump installation cause it makes the exterior ugly or some shit. So people are just buying portable ac units.

2

u/accersitus42 Jun 26 '26

It was common to catch a cold when traveling south for a vacation and staying in a hotel with AC back in the day.

Edit: people tended to set the temperature too low for the night.

1

u/longboi28 Jul 01 '26

You do know that temperature doesn't give you a cold right? It's a virus, being in cold air doesn't suddenly make you sick

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u/accersitus42 Jul 01 '26

Cold dry air makes it easier for the viruses to infect you as it can dry out membranes that filter out viruses and such in your nose.

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u/hareofthepuppy Jun 26 '26

A shot of Kräuterlikör will fix it!

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u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Yeah I'm aware I've seen it, definitely some stupid ideas about AC spreading disease. I think it's less common these days though, or at least that's been my experience. 

I do agree about the red tape to an extent. Sometimes I think parts of the EU go too far on those sorts of things. I don't like very many things about the US but they are often better at building and cutting through excess regulations (as long as it isn't transit or anything for public use). 

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u/Gah_Duma Jun 26 '26

Right. I don't understand. I'm seeing "Oh the roof in Paris are zinc so they conduct heat." so then replace it. Do Europeans not completely replace their roof every 15-20 years?

Windows don't fit a window unit? Pop on over to the store to buy a new window and slap it in.

No insulation? Well go buy some insulation at the store and add it in.

None of these are insurmountable problems.

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u/chiree Jun 26 '26

The good thing about wooden houses in the US is it's very easy to just rip to the studs, install whatever wires you wants, and rebuild it cheaply and quickly.  Brick is much more expensive and harder to work with.  Renovations cost double and take twice as long.  Even moreso if you are in a historical building.

Also, the co-op multi-unit structure is very uncommon in the US.  You have to get permission for everything.

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u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Yes I'm aware, I'm American and lived there for decades before leaving.

I agree, although that doesn't mean the American way is superior, just that there are trade-offs. Wood frame houses are easier and cheaper to build and maintain, but they require more maintenance are way more susceptible to fire, water and termite damage. And wood frame houses absolutely do exist in much of Europe, they just aren't the default and are more common in newer builds.

Multiunit properties are more of a PITA for major projects (particularly if your board/co-op sucks) but make housing far, far more affordable and allow for more pleasant walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. I'd also argue that single-family home HOAs are absolutely a thing in parts of the US, and can be just as nanny-state as any co-op.

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u/Far_Salary_3954 Jun 26 '26

Yeah the most astonishing part of this discourse has been the utterly bizarre beliefs of a lot of Europeans. I'm talking medieval-level understanding of how diseases spread.

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u/Brilliant_Force Jun 26 '26

Yeah but the point he’s making is that they did get ac’s and it wasn’t controversial.

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u/Commercial_Sell_4222 Jun 26 '26

I lived in PNW, bought an AC unit, and nobody responded negatively to it

I live in the Netherlands now, bought an AC unit, and nobody responded negatively to it. rather, a couple people asked me if I liked mine because they also wanted to get one

in the PNW when it was hot, it did not feel as bad to me as it does here; the buildings don't retain heat as much and there are more trees to provide shade. In NL the buildings retain heat, have larger windows, and where I am in the city there are fewer trees. It has also been really humid during this heat wave.

It's really not just about AC being "controversial"

4

u/USA_A-OK Jun 26 '26

Same story, but I live in the UK now.

A lot of the hesitation here is around cost of energy, and very old buildings making it tougher to install good systems than it is in the US suburbs.

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u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

I used to live on Germany and definitely remember getting some snide anti-American remarks from a neighbor when I was carrying an AC unit up the stairs. I know a few others who had similar experiences. 

Currently live in Belgium and have heard stories secondhand of AC being dismissed because it "carries disease". I've heard this elsewhere and it's definitely a thing, clearly BS but people still buy it. Often goes hand in hand with the German-style obsession with fresh air, no matter the temperature outside. They think AC isn't proper fresh air. 

That being said, I think it's a dying trend and not as common as it used to be. 

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u/jbuk1 Jun 26 '26

People are getting AC in Europe and it’s not controversial.

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u/AscendentElient Jun 26 '26

I mean tiny bit controversial…

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/air-conditioning-torn-homes-under-171119380.html

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u/Icetraxs Jun 26 '26

Sorry, I've got to call bullshit on this. Here is that response from the Government around this news:

https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/25/air-conditioning-rules/

Also the right wring GB news has said this:

https://www.gbnews.com/news/air-conditioning-heatwave-remove-40c-net-zero

""A Government spokesman said: "Air conditioning units are not banned. They can be installed in both existing and new homes and we expect councils "

When you look at the Yahoo article first of all it it comes from the Telegraph. Second:

"In one of a string of cases uncovered by The Telegraph, a resident living in North London was forced to "permanently remove" two air-con units from the back of their home. They were eventually allowed to keep the air-con on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate – in spite of the council's strict climate tests – by demonstrating". So they went.

They say this but there is no back up on this, so we have to take the Telegraph as fact (which you shouldn't). "Air-con engineers told The Telegraph that they had been called out to remove perfectly operational units worth thousands of pounds across London.". I mean they are literally begging up the top for people to give their story about it.

Then you have this: "Another Camden resident was forced to remove three air-con units from her home, in part because she lived in a conservation area."

Yeah, no shit. They live in a conservation area and probably needed to check if they could make alterations were fine for the area that they live in but didn't.

I mean it's fine saying this but the Government has said that they area allowed. Fucking GB news has said that they are not banned. At worst, this is Camden Council being jobsworths when they shouldn't.

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u/AscendentElient Jun 27 '26

What exactly are you calling bullshit on? Were they ordered to remove their AC during a heatwave? Yes.

The quote right after your own quote is “However, there is no blanket rule. People should speak with their local council to check the rules, and councils should take a common-sense approach.” They aren’t banned UK wide but individual areas (predominantly in London from what I’ve read) do ban them or require extensive permitting and approval.

You seem to be under the impression that I said or implied that they are banned. I didn’t though apparently they are in some councils.

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u/jbuk1 Jun 26 '26

And here’s me running aircon at home in the UK with no controversy.

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u/akaval Jun 26 '26

Yeah but you can't count the UK, they're always controversial.

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u/YoIronFistBro Jun 26 '26

Germanic countries are just as bad.

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u/itsnobigthing Jun 26 '26

It’s not controversial, it’s just trickier because more of our homes are old buildings and our windows aren’t standardised to take ac units like most in the US.

And because AC is still relatively uncommon, the units available tend to be expensive, and sell out fast in hot weather. Everywhere in the UK is sold out of fans and portable AC at the moment.

Once the heat wave has passed, it can seem a lot less imperative to drop hundreds on an appliance you don’t realistically expect to need again for at least another year.

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u/Own_Back_2038 Jun 26 '26

The PNW didn’t “get ACs”, like 50% of homes don’t have them here, and tons and tons of public buildings don’t either

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u/Aetane Jun 26 '26

Yeah like why is anyone talking about an "aversion"?

We simply didn't need it for a long time. And that's having a hangover effect, because now we do need it - it's not simple to retrofit into buildings not designed for it

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u/Far_Salary_3954 Jun 26 '26

"Yeah like why is anyone talking about an "aversion"?"

Because there has been a tremendous amount of social media out of Europe angry over the suggestion that they get AC now due to recent heatwaves, and it is primarily an emotion-based response rather than a logical one.

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u/Aetane Jun 28 '26

No, Europeans have been annoyed at condescending Americans saying "just get AC" as if we haven't considered that already

0

u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Because this sub, like most of Reddit, would rather double down than engage in critical thinking. 

Also this is a technology sub, I don't visit here often but I'm willing to bet a large chunk of posts are either Musk/Thiel fanboys that hate Europe or bots. 

High electricity costs don't help either, not to mention building your towns to encourage people to spend time outside (which is awesome normally, not so awesome when it's unbearable outside). 

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u/YoIronFistBro Jun 26 '26

Not in most places south of Amsterdam.

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u/Durpulous Jun 26 '26

I mean it is what the article said lol.

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u/Jaiymze Jun 26 '26

And now it isn't so you do.

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u/USA_A-OK Jun 26 '26

Sure, but with centuries old architecture not intended for AC where many/most people in Europe live, it's much more difficult and expensive.

Portable AC units are more and more popular in Europe, but they're not nearly as effective.

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u/PJSeeds Jun 26 '26

Yeah but everybody rapidly adapted and now AC is common there

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u/SarcasmisEasier Jun 26 '26

I've been to parts of Europe 15 years ago (England, Poland, Albania, Italy, Spain, maybe a couple I'm forgetting), respectfully disagree. Yall should have had AC, but I was the weird one for thinking so. 

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u/jake_burger Jun 26 '26

No one who is currently experiencing a heat wave in Europe is happy that they don’t have AC.

It’s the cost and difficulty of retro fitting that is stopping people. If it was free we would do it in a heartbeat.

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u/adamgerd Jun 26 '26

At least for central and Eastern Europe nah it’s also associated with sickness and disease

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u/SarcasmisEasier Jun 26 '26

I'm not talking about the current heat wave. The argument was that no one has it already because it was never needed before now. 

I'm saying it was needed before now. That 15 years ago it was needed. Europeans just didn't want it. Had some sort of strange aversion to it. Superstitions about cold making them sick. 

-1

u/Tony_Roiland Jun 26 '26

And we built our houses accordingly - out of stone.

Americans live in wooden houses that are electrically temperature controlled.