Air conditioners are like basic tools in many Asian households. However, even though many Asian households use AC, they remain quite rare in Europe. In countries like Japan and China, most people cannot imagine living through a summer without one. It is a standard part of their everyday life.
Europeans have lived differently for centuries. Most of their homes were built to stay cool without machines. Because their weather was usually mild, they never felt a strong need to buy them.
Now, things are changing quickly as the world gets hotter. What was once seen as a strange luxury is becoming a necessity for survival. The old ways of staying cool are no longer enough for the record-breaking heat.
Why Do Asians Use AC While Europeans Don't?
In Asia, the heat is often combined with very high humidity, which makes the weather feel much worse. In Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, about 80% of households already have AC units.
People there view cooling as a basic requirement for a productive life. In urban China, ownership passed 80% years ago because residents want better living conditions as their incomes rise.
There is also a strong link between healthy habits and cooling in Asia. Many people there are happy to invest in AC because they believe a comfortable indoor environment is better for their health. In these hot areas, it is simply too uncomfortable to rely only on open windows for fresh air.
The story is very different in Europe. Historically, European summers were short and did not reach extreme temperatures for very long. Many homes were built hundreds of years ago with thick stone walls. These buildings were designed to keep the heat out in summer and the warmth in during winter.
Another big reason is the cost. Electricity in Europe can be very expensive. In Belgium, for example, power costs nearly seven times more than it does in China. Many families simply cannot afford the high bills that come with running a machine all day.
Legal rules also play a part. Many European cities are full of historic buildings that are protected by law. Owners are often not allowed to drill holes or put heavy boxes on the outside of their walls because it ruins the building’s beauty.
Moreover, there is a cultural love for "fresh air." In Germany, people love a practice called "lüften," where they open all windows to let the outside air in, even in the winter. Many Europeans believe that the recycled air from a machine is actually unhealthy for the body.
How Europeans Deal with the 2026 Heatwave
In 2026, the long resistance to air conditioning is finally starting to break. This summer has seen temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across the continent. Sadly, the heat has become deadly, with more than 45,000 deaths linked to the extreme weather.
Europeans are now buying air conditioners in record numbers. In some countries, sales for manufacturers have grown by over 100% compared to last year. In the UK alone, the demand for portable cooling units jumped by over 600% in 2025 and 2026. People are tired of being unable to sleep or feel healthy in their own homes.
Many still use traditional ways to cope when machines sell out. They use electric fans, though these often just push hot air around the room. Others use ice packs or take many cold showers throughout the day to survive the peak heat. People are also using social media to find air-conditioned public spaces where they can hide from the sun.
The mindset is shifting from seeing AC as a luxury to seeing it as a life-saving tool. While passive measures like white roof paint are still being used, many people now feel they have no other choice but to turn on a machine.
