As climate change causes summers in Europe to become increasingly hotter, the adoption rate of air conditioning remains low.
With heat waves becoming more common, the demand for cooling solutions is rising rapidly. However, concerns over high energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and urban heat island effects have put Europe in a dilemma between expanding cooling options and addressing climate change, CNN reported on June 24.
According to CNN, Europe is experiencing record heat waves earlier and lasting longer than in previous years. Yet, most households still rely on fans, ice packs, and cold showers instead of air conditioning.
While about 90% of American households have air conditioning, the rate in Europe is around 20%. The slow spread of cooling systems in Europe, even as heat-related deaths rise, is attributed to a combination of historical, economic, and policy factors.
An official from the International Energy Agency (IEA) explained in an interview with CNN that "Europe has not been a region where air conditioning was urgently needed until relatively recently, so a cooling culture has not developed."
Historically, extreme heat waves were rare in Northern Europe, leading to the perception of air conditioning as a luxury rather than a necessity. The costs associated with installation and maintenance have also hindered its adoption. European electricity prices are generally higher than in the U.S., while many countries have lower average incomes, increasing the financial burden of cooling.
Building designs have also played a role. Traditional structures in Southern Europe feature thick walls and small windows, designed for natural ventilation, reducing the need for artificial cooling. In contrast, homes in regions like the UK are often built to withstand cold rather than heat, and many older buildings make it difficult to install cooling systems. Approximately one in six homes in the UK was built before 1900.
Regulations further complicate the situation. In the UK, outdoor unit installations are often denied in conservation areas or historic buildings due to concerns about altering the building's appearance, CNN reported.
Climate policies also restrict the spread of air conditioning. The European Union aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, but air conditioning consumes significant electricity and releases heat outdoors, raising surrounding temperatures. A study focused on Paris found that air conditioning could increase external temperatures by about 2 to 4 degrees Celsius. This effect is particularly pronounced in densely populated European cities.
In fact, Spain introduced energy-saving regulations in 2022 that prevent public facilities from setting air conditioning below 27 degrees Celsius.
However, as climate change causes Europe to warm at nearly twice the global average rate, perceptions about cooling are changing rapidly. The IEA projects that the number of air conditioning units in the EU will more than double from 2019 levels, reaching 275 million by 2050.
A representative from a UK cooling company noted, "Inquiries for residential air conditioning have tripled in the past five years," adding, "The recent heat wave has led to explosive demand. Many people are struggling to sleep due to the heat, even at 3 a.m."
Experts warn that while air conditioning is the most immediate solution to escape the heat, reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity could create a vicious cycle that exacerbates climate change.
Radika Kosla, a professor at the University of Oxford, told CNN, "Air conditioning powered by fossil fuels increases greenhouse gas emissions, which accelerates global warming and leads to more severe heat waves."
CNN concluded that Europe's challenge moving forward will be to enhance the energy efficiency of cooling devices and strengthen related regulations to minimize the climate crisis.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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