The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

[u/Logical_Welder3467]

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6

[u/Aonswitch → u/[deleted]]

As an American I wouldn’t put up with heat like that for ten seconds. It’s sad y’all can’t just upgrade and instead defend your mediocrity

[u/Ok_Preparation694 → u/Aonswitch]

And that’s one of the reasons why we are frying in Europe. The planet cannot support more people living like the Americans - the wasteful way. But hey, when we will all install the AC units, they’ll be useful for more than a week a year since it will just speedrun global warming. 🙃

[u/Your-Dads_Boyfriend → u/Ok_Preparation694]

Sad you're getting downvoted when you are correct. It's not just energy use, though using fossil fuels to power AC is even worse and since most of America is NOT fueled by renewables (only 25%) the burning of fossil fuels for AC usage does in fact accelerate climate change.

But on top of the energy use to power AC, AC literally causes the outside temperature to increase, as it moves hot air from inside to the outside. Thus further increasing the rise of temperatures and causing more AC use. It's a terrible cycle, the more you use AC, the hotter you make it outside, so the more you use it. It's not really sustainable long term, even if every AC was powered using renewable resources.

Clearly people here hate facts though and I know this will get downvoted as well.

[u/cheapgentleman → u/Your-Dads_Boyfriend]

How hot do you make it outside when you use AC?

[u/Your-Dads_Boyfriend → u/cheapgentleman]

One AC unit? Not a lot. A cities worth of AC units, quite a bit. In dense urban areas, heat exhausted from multiple AC units can raise outside air temperatures by more than 1°C (nearly 2°F). During extreme heatwaves, this localized bump can reach up to 3.6°C (almost 7 degrees) in the streets at night.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Impact-of-AC-on-air-temperature-these-maps-show-the-temperature-increase-due-to-AC_fig3_338521391

https://news.asu.edu/content/excess-heat-air-conditioners-causes-higher-nighttime-temperatures

[u/Ok_Preparation694 → u/Your-Dads_Boyfriend]

Yep, thanks for that. It’s not even accounting the material cost of building AC (not many recyclable parts) nor the fact that the coolants used in the ACs are responsible for global warming as well.

Shouldn’t have said anything, people are too focused on their personal experience and personal opinion, seeking to find an excuse for their wastefulness/short-sightedness. Reality is one, its interpreations - endless.