You are using it much less than you should

In Europe there are a good amount of countries in which to have air conditioning A luxury is considered. It is not for less, because in the regions of the north there are rather a few days that need it. However, the issue is somewhat more complex than it seems first. And while heat waves intensify and torrid nights multiply, the continent maintains its air conditioning resistance.

A matter of public health. In 2022 we counted that Only 10% of European households have these systemscompared to 91% of the United States. However, according to data of the Financial Times, the Extreme heat mortality figures They are significant enough not to turn a blind eye: between 2000 and 2019, Europe registered an average of 83,000 deaths per year due to extreme temperatures, four times more than North America.

In front of the United States, Europe It goes quite behind Regarding the use of air conditioning in its locations. You just need to ride a taxi in the US to check that they do not tremble in putting the air conditioning anywhere in the year. The data of FT in terms of the low adoption of the air conditioning in Europe in front of the US are clear, since they are compared to the risk of extreme heat mortality.

In Singapore they have it clear. Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore, attributed The economic success of his country from the second half of the twentieth century to two factors: multiethnic tolerance and air conditioning. It was not an exaggeration. He considered the refrigeration “one of the most important inventions in history” and the key to increasing the efficiency of public administration.

The energy dilemma. The air conditioning Currently consumes 7% of world electricity And his demand grows without brake. The projections indicate that in 2050 there will be 6,000 million devices working globally, compared to 2,000 million in 2016. This exponential growth responds to the increase in “cooling degrees per day”: in 2024 they were 6% higher than the previous year and 20% higher than the average of the first two decades of the century. The problem is not only how much energy they consume, but when: during the maximum heat hours, these systems can represent up to 70% of electricity consumption.

Heat. European cities experience temperatures that were previously unthinkable. FT Compare the temperatures that They are living in London With Portland, Oregon. And it is that the British capital has more than 18 days of heat so unbearable that the air conditioning is already missing. And of course, London does not have the Portland cooling infrastructure. In addition, the warm nights, the most dangerous for health, are the ones that increase the most.

According to account The medium, sleeping with temperatures greater than 23 ° C largely deteriorates the quality of sleep, while cognitive and work performance begins to collapse when the thermometers go far beyond the 21 ° C inside. In many regions of Spain, we could give ourselves a song in our teeth if we reached only those temperatures.

Regulatory barriers. Although the weather becomes more extreme, European regulations continue to make the installation of air conditioners difficult. In cities like Amsterdam, its building regulations prohibits install external units In balconies, forcing water cooling systems to use up to ten times more expensive. This situation pushes many citizens towards portable devices, less efficient, more noisy and that consume more energy.

But come on, you don’t have to go very far. In Oviedo himself there is a municipal ordinance that does not allow to place air conditioning units on the balconies. In this case it is to protect the aesthetics of the facades. And of course, doing so leads to large fines.

The future aligns. We are in an energy panorama that changes in favor of refrigeration. Luckily, the greatest demand for air conditioning coincides with The rise of solar energycreating a perfect synergy. In addition, air-air heat pumps (Aerothermia) They can cover both cooling and heating much more efficiently, potentially reducing net emissions. It is a system that serves as an ideal partner for a photovoltaic installation, but of course, it is also a more expensive investment for the consumer.

Necessary innovation. The industry responds with more efficient technologies. The Distinging cooling systems They use materials that absorb moisture to refrigerate more effectively, while heat exchangers constantly improve their performance. Any small improvement in efficiency, multiplied by millions of devices, can make a difference. The Passive cooling In buildings it becomes something of extreme need. But of course, when the heat squeezes, it is inevitable to finally give the bitcito of our air conditioning.

Thermal inequality. According to account FT, maintaining current restrictions does not reduce emissions; It only expands inequalities. Families with resources are protected by installing their own systems, while the most vulnerable suffer the consequences of extreme heat. Many think that European regulations It is too strict in certain countries where heat makes more and more act of presence. The problem comes when this regulation is fully crossed in a matter of public health.

Cover image | José Antonio Carmona

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