Why don’t more European homes have air conditioning despite deadly heatwaves?

Question

They had a major heatwave 23 years ago which killed many people, but you'd think they'd learn to install air conditioning.

Now they are having heat related deaths totaling in the thousands already, which is as bad or worse than the Venezuela Earthquake toll. Some 85% of deaths are people 65 and older. :(

Just_Ken · Accepted Answer

They generally dont need them and historically they didn't. Modern cities are so vast that they create their own micro climates of concrete, steel and glass.

Europe espesically in the Mediterranean historically has ways of dealing with heatwaves such as during the day closing all windows, shutters and doors to seal in the previous nights cool air and then at night they open all windows to create cross ventilation to get rid of all day time heat. Blocks of ice as they melt cool the air and evaporative mopping of tile floors cool the air as the water evaporated.

Then there's siestas, where everything closes at mid day only for towns to reopen again during the day. They dont cook with ovens in the home during the day either instead eating lighter cooler food in the evenings.

You ever see a lot of European towns and cities have centuries old water fountains and swimming pools. Water fountains cool the air, thats what they are for.

A big problem Europe is having it that in a push for energy efficient environmentally friendly houses that retain heat in the winter with thicker insulation, insulating windows, roofs, walls etc that reduce energy needed to heat now they need air cons.

Historically central courtyards and trees to provide shade also helps. Narrow streets cultured together create shade to keep houses cool. Again water features fountains, pools, ponds etc cool the air. Use of natural ventilation, for instance a lot of buildings were built in relation to the direction of prevailing cool winds from say the sea or mountains. All something not seen today but something architects and construction planners should start considering these things.

The major aspect is that electricity is 3-4 times higher in price in Europe compared to America.

Why don’t more European homes have air conditioning despite deadly heatwaves?

I myself dont use air-conditioning that much. I talked to my wife and was able to convince her to close up our house shutters at day break to keep the cool air in and open the windows at night. It works well most of the time and sit outside in the garden gazebo and by the pool. When it doesn't work we still have air con run off the solar panels on the roof and wall energy batteries we have in the basement.

Effably · Accepted Answer

Honestly I am not sure. You'd think we'd learn but we don't. Snow is just as awkward each year. If I were to guess the reason is that you omly need it once every few years and we often just go on vacation those weeks and enjoy it.

That said I think a little honesty is also important.
Europe during a heatwave has seen nearly 1300 heat related deaths. This does not mean someone died from overheating specifically but rather that the heat made a condition worse. Think old senior who was barely holding on and the doctor writes "Condition worsened by heat" and that is what we are talking about.

Meanwhile USA, a significantly smaller place, has around 3000 heat related deaths annually and this year currently looking to be worse at near 4000. The US does in general have AC more often, but clearly it is not working at all as they are suffering more from the same problem.

But yes. Absolutely. We should all learn, across the globe. It might even warrant going back and reconsidering construction ideas.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well, here in Sweden you almost never need it. It’s a few days or a week or two out of the year. And by the time the heat starts we know it will soon be over so there’s no point in going out to buy and install one. Before the heatwave/summer we don’t know that it will even be needed this summer. After the heat is over it would just collect dust for a year or even longer until the next heatwave. Electricity is also very expensive here so people just do what they’ve always done - fans, opening windows, cold showers, going to the beach etc.

lilBigPotato · Accepted Answer

European countries with regular hot weather have air cons and the ones who only have a few days a year with really hot weather don't because it's not really needed. Europe isn't one country with one climate.

Also air cons won't change much about people dying because they usually don't die while chilling at home.

The US has every year thousands of heat related deaths despite air con being a common thing 🤷‍♀️

OneViewpoint · Answer

Could the EU electric grid handle the load if millions suddenly started using air conditioning? Is it a "green" decision by EU governments? Or is it purely an economics driven decision at the consumer level?

Cooling can be accomplished with a fairly efficient electric fan and water... evaporation off skin. What a fan can't do for people with heart and lung problems is reducing humidity. Wet air places a higher load on your lungs with increased mass and lower oxygen content per breath. That means your heart needs to work harder to oxygenate your blood.

molonski2 · Answer

I live in Thailand , year round it's much hotter than all of Europe..

I run ZERO aircon , understand how to live correctly in heat , including the dwelling , aircon is a joke , causes a plethora of damage , understand airflow and dealing with beautiful heat..

Traditional Thai is a great example..

I run half marathons in this weather , it's fine.

Tamera952 · Answer

Well, #1) They didn’t really need it until recently #2) They (are) or were in denial about the warming planet really affecting them #3) They culturally are just not used to the whole idea of A/C, unlike Americans who have grown up in newer sorta housing and are used to it.

jshm2 · Answer

Because it is not a common occurrence. A fan will usually suffice.

There is no evidence of this "thousands" you speak of, so behave yourself.

The few that have died were people who did not take the proper precautions, or were old/infirm and did not reach out to relevant parties to get the right assistance.

You have more kids dying in US school shootings than you have in European heatwaves.

purplepoppy · Answer

It's nothing to do with price, it's simply they'd be used so rarely it's not worth it. I've talked to people who have them at work and they get turned on a few days a year at best

Jersey2 · Answer

I was in that heatwave 23 years ago in Paris. A lot of old people died. 10,000 people were reported dead during the heat wave, I don’t know how many actually died in the end. I remember walking up the Champs-Élysées and ducking into a store that sold spy equipment of all things because it had great air conditioning. Europeans are very stubborn about a lot of things including A/C.

LiamS95 · Answer

Most likely because they don't tend to have forced air heating systems although with the advancement in mini-split ductless heat pump systems there is no excuse to not have a cooling system with the added benefit of an economically viable to operate heat pump to compliment the existing heating system.

Shiprex · Answer

Heatwaves are rate so we don't need to waste energy by having pointless aircon on all the time. We are also more resilient that soft Americans who get cranky when they have to make their body do any work for homeostasis to be carried out.

sawno · Answer

Europe usually has a really bad heat wave for only a few weeks per year so they don't find it worth it. Its changing though, I have one myself for many years.

docster · Answer

The electrical infrastructure probably couldn't handle it if too many got Air cond. A window unit to keep one room cool in an emergency wouldn't cost much to buy, at least in the US.

TonyMetal___1986 · Answer

It doesn't have to be a central air conditioning system, you can always fix a split unit...

DonaldDarko · Answer

I heard of European countries where you needed permission to even buy an AC unit. Their socialist power grid can't handle the strain. Next time try capitalism!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

genericname85 · Answer

cause the eu is controlling it's citizens with non democratic supranational laws that regulate emissions. basically rich people can fly their planes and private yachts. doesn't matter when poor people die to heat stroke. it is what it is.

Lliam · Answer

They probably get punished for using more than their allotment of energy and being un-envirnmental.

strateguy632 · Answer

kuz most of the year is cold.. they can use a fan. or maybe they believe climate change so won't use electric?

usernameobvious · Answer

The homes of Europe are all 200+300 years old. Some even 100+ years old.  Lol - the downside to keeping architecture 🙃☺️

beenherebefore · Answer

Most people don't have a/c installed in the homes because it's expensive and electricity is not cheap either.

exitseven · Answer

Energy i a lot more expensive in Europe and most people cannot afford it.

Billlewis · Answer

Mostly because they've been greenwashed by the climate alarmist scam.

FreyaRed · Answer

Do all homes in Alaska have air conditioner? It's the same geographical latitude

NoDecision · Answer

Blame it on Super El Nino which is dropping more heat than what people usually get.

ThisSiteSux · Answer

Their electricity costs twice even three times as much as it does in America and they have laws against things that make life easy because they think climate change is real.

Xawyx-2 · Answer

I have one, and most people I know have air conditioning, I'm from Europe, and my country is one of the least developed country in EU.

In_Trance · Answer

So you're saying the two occurrences in 23 years justifies the average working family spending $10,000?  Think before you post

Staximus · Answer

All that concrete, stone, and plaster retains a lot of heat. Those buildings would be like ovens in the desert here

888theGreat · Answer

because historically they have moderate climate

Anonymous · Answer

The EU is an American occupation regime that imposes draconian restrictions on Europe

sage2021 · Answer

Remind me not to move to the EU!!

Badtobad · Answer

Have no idea, it's so hot here.

FrodoSkywalker007 · Answer

Don't worry! They will blame Trump

_Jenny_ · Answer

@seekeroftruth007 Fresh air

Mike_Hum · Answer

They're dumb.

Why don’t more European homes have air conditioning despite deadly heatwaves?

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