Europe Is Battling Deadly Heat, Yet Only 20% Of Homes Have Air Conditioning: Here’s Why

Published 25 June 2026 · europe

Europe Is Battling Deadly Heat, Yet Only 20% Of Homes Have Air Conditioning: Here’s Why Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 10:24 IST As

Europe Is Battling Deadly Heat, Yet Only 20% Of Homes Have Air Conditioning: Here’s Why Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 10:24 IST As extreme heat overwhelms homes, schools and hospitals, Europe is being forced to confront its long reluctance to adopt cooling. Rapid Read A woman uses an iPhone to shield her face from the sun while walking on Oxford Street as Britain experiences record temperatures disrupting schools and transport networks. (REUTERS) Europe is facing hotter, longer and more frequent heatwaves, but millions of homes across the continent still do not have air conditioning. Nearly 90% of homes in the United States have AC, compared with around 20% in Europe, according to CNN. The figure rises to about 25% in France and 50% in Spain and Italy, the BBC reported. For decades, Europeans largely managed summer heat with fans, shutters, cold showers and ice packs. But as temperatures approach 40 degrees Celsius, schools shut and hospitals struggle to function, the continent’s longstanding resistance to air conditioning is coming under increasing pressure. The hesitation is not simply cultural. It is rooted in Europe’s climate history, ageing buildings, high energy costs, environmental policies and concerns that mass adoption of air conditioning could worsen the climate crisis. Europe Historically Had Little Need For Air Conditioning Air conditioning never became an essential feature of European homes because much of the continent, particularly northern Europe, did not historically experience sustained periods of extreme heat. Heatwaves occurred, but they were generally less prolonged and severe than those now becoming increasingly common. Homes were therefore designed primarily to cope with cold winters rather than scorching summers. “In Europe… we simply don’t have the tradition of air conditioning… because up to relatively recently, it hasn’t been a major need," Brian Motherway, head of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions at the International Energy Agency, told CNN. This history also shaped public attitudes. Air conditioning was widely viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity, especially because installing and operating it could be expensive. “We haven’t been in the habit … of thinking about how we stay cool in the summer.

It really is a relatively recent phenomenon," Motherway said. That assumption is now being tested as climate change drives temperatures higher and heatwaves arrive earlier in the year. Europe’s Buildings Were Not Designed For Modern Heat Architecture is another major reason air conditioning remains uncommon. Many European buildings are old and were constructed before modern cooling systems became widespread. In England, for example, one in six homes was built before 1900, according to CNN. Older properties can be more difficult to retrofit with central air conditioning. External condenser units may also face planning restrictions, particularly in protected neighbourhoods and historic buildings. Richard Salmon, director of the UK-based Air Conditioning Company, told CNN that applications are often rejected “on the basis of the visual appearance of the outdoor condenser unit, especially in conservation areas or on listed buildings". The situation is different in parts of southern Europe, where traditional homes were built to withstand heat. Thick walls, smaller windows and designs that improve airflow helped keep interiors cooler and reduced the perceived need for artificial cooling. But even these buildings are being challenged by heatwaves that are more intense and last longer, particularly when temperatures remain high through the night. High Electricity Costs Make AC Less Attractive The cost of air conditioning has also slowed its adoption. Energy prices in many European countries are higher than in the United States, while household incomes are often lower. That makes both installation and regular use expensive. Even when residents can afford to buy an air-conditioning unit, running it continuously during a heatwave may be beyond their budget. Portable units are increasingly being bought during periods of extreme heat because they can be installed quickly. In France, there has been a rush to purchase them as residents struggle to sleep in overheated apartments and schools attempt to keep classrooms usable. Salmon said residential enquiries to his company had more than tripled over the past five years. “This heatwave in particular has sent things through the roof… People just can’t function when they’re boiling at 3 a.m.," he told CNN.