European heatwave spikes air‑conditioner demand and shifts travel

A prolonged heatwave across Europe has pushed temperatures to 35‑40 °C in many regions, prompting health warnings and heightened fire risk. In the Netherlands, requests for home air‑conditioner installations surged to a record six times the level of the same period last year, while Germany saw a 7.4‑fold increase and the United Kingdom a 320 % rise, according to data from the Werkspot/Angi network.

Municipal leaders in Dutch towns are debating how to respond. Some, such as the mayor of Echt‑Susteren, say their councils cannot open cooling centres, whereas others in Weert and Roermond are drafting heat‑action plans and regional cooperation with health services. In Belgium, the mayor of Sint‑Truiden highlighted the stark temperature contrast between built‑up areas (42 °C) and nearby green parks (25 °C) and called for expanded tree planting to mitigate heat‑island effects.

The heatwave is also reshaping travel behaviour. European destinations are seeing a shift toward shoulder‑season trips, with Australian travellers increasingly booking trips in spring or early autumn to avoid the peak summer heat. Thailand is actively marketing to heat‑weary Europeans, while Chinese air‑conditioner manufacturers report a surge in overseas sales despite trade tensions. Advice on improving mobile‑unit efficiency, such as sealing window gaps with plexiglass, is being promoted to reduce energy waste.

Overall, the extreme temperatures are driving record demand for cooling solutions, prompting municipal policy discussions, influencing tourism patterns, and highlighting the need for greener urban planning.