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Why Germans don't have air conditioning
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- Air conditioning is common in countries like the US, Australia, and Japan, with around 90% of US homes equipped, but in Europe, only about 20% of households have AC, varying widely by country.
- Europe is experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves due to climate change, driving a surge in electricity demand for cooling, with AC demand in Germany rising 75% from 2019 to 2024.
- Many European homes, especially in northern regions, are not designed for cooling, and retrofitting AC units is complicated by regulatory, aesthetic, and rental market challenges.
- Cost, environmental concerns, and social perceptions contribute to resistance against widespread AC adoption in Europe, despite heat posing serious public health risks and causing thousands of deaths annually.
- Alternatives to traditional air conditioning include improved building designs, heat pumps, urban greenery, district cooling systems, and smart technologies that increase energy efficiency while reducing emissions.
