Europe's homes unprepared for record heat as air‑conditioning remains rare

Extreme heat waves in Europe are now regularly exceeding 40 °C, straining schools, hospitals and households. Only about 20 % of European homes have air‑conditioning, far below the roughly 90 % rate in the United States. Adoption varies, with France at about 25 %, and Spain and Italy around 50 %.

Experts cite historic architecture, many buildings constructed before modern cooling systems, and strict heritage‑preservation rules that limit external units. High electricity prices also deter installation. "In Europe we simply have no tradition of air‑conditioning," said Brian Maderegui of the International Energy Agency. Richard Salmon of a UK cooling firm noted that many applications are rejected for visual impact in historic areas.

The lack of cooling is raising public‑health concerns as schools, hospitals and elderly care facilities struggle to operate safely. Local authorities are now urging mass cooling installations in public infrastructure. The International Energy Agency projects that Europe's air‑conditioning units could double to 275 million by 2050, sparking debate over increased energy demand and greenhouse‑gas emissions.