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Europe is committing suicide with its hostility to air conditioners

2026-07-06 16:10:41Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Europe is committing suicide with its hostility to air conditioners

The hostility of some European countries to air conditioning has been described as “suicidal” in an opinion piece that has reopened the debate on the use of air conditioners in increasingly intense heat waves. According to the data cited, over 20,000 deaths linked to extreme temperatures were reported last week, including more than 2,000 in France, 1,222 in Belgium and 480 in the Netherlands.

Despite this, many European countries continue to hold a reticent stance on the use of air conditioners, arguing about the environmental impact or health effects, while some local authorities promote alternative solutions such as urban greening. The modern history of air conditioning began in 1902, when a young Willis Carrier in Buffalo, New York, discovered a way to cool air by passing it over a coil of cold water. Technology has advanced significantly since then, and today about 90% of American homes have air conditioning. In Japan, the percentage is even higher.

According to foreign reports, in Europe, only about 20% of households have air conditioning. Although the continent has a generally milder climate than the United States, it is notable that countries with colder conditions, such as Canada, have installed cooling systems in two-thirds of their homes. Critics of the European stance on air conditioning say the arguments against installing them are baseless. Many argue that it was not so hot before, but the 2003 heat wave in Europe caused more than 70,000 deaths.

Others say that European homes are not designed for air conditioning, even though almost 80% of Europe's housing stock was built after 1945. According to one analysis, regulations and high energy costs play a significant role. In some countries, the installation of air conditioners conflicts with urban planning rules or energy efficiency policies.

In Britain, regulations effectively restrict the installation of air conditioners in new homes, while in the Swiss canton of Geneva, homeowners must present a medical certificate and prove a health need to install an air conditioner. Even in hospitals, the picture is different from other regions of the world. In Germany, only a third of hospitals have air-conditioned rooms for patients, even though the elderly and sick are more vulnerable to the heat.

Kundërshtarët e ajrit të kondicionuar theksojnë se përdorimi i tij në rritje kontribuon në ngrohjen globale. Megjithatë, mbështetësit e tij përgjigjen se kjo është qasja e gabuar, pasi nxehtësia e tepërt tashmë po vret njerëz. Për më tepër, ata theksojnë se emetimet e karbonit nga ftohja janë shumë më të vogla se ato të shkaktuara nga ngrohja, pa pasur një diskutim përkatës në lidhje me heqjen e sistemeve të ngrohjes. (Washington Post)


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