Why is air conditioning rare in Europe?
Bonus question. Do you use air conditioning, or do you prefer opening up the house?
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Who says that? Plenty of AC units in Southern Europe.
DavidBianchet2 · 56-60, M
@CrazyMusicLover
Air conditioning is rare in Europe because only about 20% of households have a unit, compared to nearly 90% in the United States. Historically, Europe had a mild climate, high energy costs, and strict building rules. People relied on natural air flow instead of machines.
Air conditioning is rare in Europe because only about 20% of households have a unit, compared to nearly 90% in the United States. Historically, Europe had a mild climate, high energy costs, and strict building rules. People relied on natural air flow instead of machines.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
@DavidBianchet2
Europe had a mild climate
North from the Alps maybe. You can't compare Spain or Greece to Germany or Scandinavia.
AdmiralPrune · 46-50, M
Why do you think? Until recent climate spikes there was no demand.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
The silhoutte map illustrating the Forum title shows one reason right away.
Over half of the Continent is much further North than you think. Even the most Southerly part of the British Isles is on the same latitude as Newfoundland.
Keeping buildings warm in Winter was always more important and difficult than keeping them cool in Summer.
However, as you go Southwards towards the Mediterranean Sea, traditional house architecture reversed this to cope with the milder Winters and hotter Summers.
It's only relatively recently that the drab, corporate uniformity of modern architecture has forgotten all this, and now that more extreme temperatures more frequently seem to be becoming "normal", artificial aids like air-conditioning are likely to spread even in Britain.
That's for domestic use. It's been common in large business premises and public buildings like theatres and hospitals for a long time. Future homes in Britain are likely to be built new with heat-pumps that warm them in Winter and cool them in Summer; but this is by no means new for big auditoria and the like.
Over half of the Continent is much further North than you think. Even the most Southerly part of the British Isles is on the same latitude as Newfoundland.
Keeping buildings warm in Winter was always more important and difficult than keeping them cool in Summer.
However, as you go Southwards towards the Mediterranean Sea, traditional house architecture reversed this to cope with the milder Winters and hotter Summers.
It's only relatively recently that the drab, corporate uniformity of modern architecture has forgotten all this, and now that more extreme temperatures more frequently seem to be becoming "normal", artificial aids like air-conditioning are likely to spread even in Britain.
That's for domestic use. It's been common in large business premises and public buildings like theatres and hospitals for a long time. Future homes in Britain are likely to be built new with heat-pumps that warm them in Winter and cool them in Summer; but this is by no means new for big auditoria and the like.