air

“There are legal grounds that justify Renfe returning the money if you travel without air conditioning”

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Madrid-Extremadura without air conditioning. Not, at least, working at full capacity. That is what is being experienced on some Renfe trains. As confirmed by Renfe itself, the heat is being so intense these days that, in some cases and to protect the train itself, the air conditioning is turned off. And for this you can ask for your money back. Yes, grab a chair. an oven. This is what some of the train cars are becoming. Renfe Madrid-Extremadura trains that these days travel through the plains of Toledo and Extremadura before reaching Badajoz. And just as CCOO unions have denouncedin some of these trains the air conditioning is being turned off. According to Renfe, this is because the trains are being exposed to such high temperatures that the train itself has to protect itself because the cooling system is not enough to keep it running. Saving resources, trains turn off the air conditioning in some cars and continue to their destination. Controlled? At Renfe they assure that yes. The company accepts the union’s criticism but assures that the train crew is ordered to move passengers from cars without air conditioning and relocate them to where it does. In addition, they assure that when these extreme weather conditions occur, they stop selling tickets to ensure that there are enough free seats to relocate passengers. And your rights? Your right as a consumer allows you to file a complaint and even request a refund of the ticket money. This is what they point out from the OCU, an organization from which they tell us the following: “The relationship between the traveler and the railway company is articulated by a transport contract whose content is not exhausted by the obligation to transfer, but rather includes the conditions under which this must be provided. And although there is no legal rule that recognizes an express right to a full refund of the ticket for traveling on a train without air conditioning, there are legal bases that can justify said refund when the breakdown constitutes a serious breach of the transport contract” And it is also confirmed by Renfe itself who confirms that the traveler has the opportunity to file a claim if they consider that the conditions of the service do not meet expectations. And the European Union defends that if the consumer does not receive a service of a quality as expected, he will have the right to request a refund of the ticket when the company does not ensure the “cleanliness of the rolling stock and the station facilities (control of air quality and temperature in the carriages, hygiene of the sanitary facilities, etc.)”, as reflected in the Regulation on the rights and obligations of railway passengers. Some minimums. As stated in this document, all companies that offer public transport services must adhere to minimum quality standards to offer their journeys. The company states in the general contracting conditions that the client has the right “to receive the contracted service in adequate conditions of quality and safety.” If these minimums are not met, customers have the right to claim the money for the ticket and the company will be obliged to provide a response in less than three months. “The fundamental question of whether or not to obtain a refund will depend on whether the absence of this service is considered an essential breach of the contract or not, depending on the specific conditions of the case,” they specify in the OCU. And they emphasize: “It must be sufficiently argued, not in general, but in this case, that the lack of air conditioning cannot be equated to a simple annoyance or a minor incident on a high-speed train during the summer, but rather a direct breach of the essential conditions of the service. For example, if the train runs for several hours with very high temperatures and without cooling, it can be argued that there is defective performance of the contract, it is not an accessory service (like the Wi-Fi connection for example)” The cases already known. As Renfe and the Facua experts recognize, complaints about not offering air conditioning on the train are not entirely unrelated to the company. In 2018a user claimed from Renfe (and won) the return of his ticket because the air conditioning had broken down. But the most striking case is the one that Facua itself reported a few weeks ago. The consumer defense organization pointed out that one of its members had gotten the money back for a Zaragoza-Barcelona match for this same reason… but The claims spanned three years. in which they had to communicate with Renfe on various occasions. Is it a precedent? The most important thing here is that the facts known and defended by Facua do not generate any type of legal precedent because there is no judicial ruling involved. It is “a solution reached extrajudicially between a consumer and Renfe, with the collaboration of a consumer association (Facua), and therefore does not consolidate any rights. Traveling by train without air conditioning does not automatically generate the right to a full refund of the ticket,” they explain from the OCU. They emphasize, on the contrary, that “the relevance of the case lies in the fact that the railway company itself recognizes that a breakdown of this nature can justify, in itself, the full refund of the amount paid” and that if we find ourselves in this situation “it is advisable to complain to the company. If no response is obtained or it is not favorable, legal advice can be sought, such as that provided by consumer associations, as well as appeal to the Transport Arbitration Boards or the Courts.” Photo | Pablo Nieto Abad In Xataka | If the question is who is going to pay your compensation for taking five hours to Madrid-Barcelona, ​​the answer is clear: nobody

Lidl sells out its 45 euro evaporative air conditioner. We have found a very similar and cheaper alternative

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Lidl has many products in its bazaar, and some of them are hard to believe are sold in the online store or in physical stores (I still remember seeing an electric guitar many years ago). Now that we are going through a very hot time, it is logical that we find devices aimed at combating it, as is the case of the Tronic air conditioner which has a price of 44.99 euros. The price is so attractive that right now it is out of stock in the online store and the supermarket does not mention whether it will replace new units. However, on Amazon there is a very similar air conditioner that is even cheaper: it is the Cecotec EnergySilence 3500 Cool Compact what does it cost 39.90 euros. Cecotec EnergySilence 3500 Cool Compact The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Two air conditioners with an excellent quality-price ratio Tronic air conditioning (left) and Cecotec air conditioning (right). We are talking about two air conditioners that are quite similar, even in design. The one from Cecotec, which is the one that is available in stores, offers the same 65W powera low figure but enough to relieve us from the summer heat, especially when using water or the two coolers that are included (like the one from Lidl). The most important difference is in the tank: the Lidl one has four liters, while the Cecotec one has a 3.5 liter tank. As you can see, the difference is not too big and, in practice, we are going to have a very similar experience. The Cecotec air conditioner incorporates a button panel at the top that is quite intuitive. It includes three speeds to regulate the intensity of the air flow and offers an automatic 70º oscillation. Furthermore, the good thing is that incorporates wheelsso it can be moved from one room to another comfortably and quickly. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: Cecotec EnergySilence 3500 Cool Compact offer today ✅ THE BEST Its price: This is an air conditioner that stands out above all for how cheap it is. Your button boxwhich is very intuitive to select the different speed modes. The wheelswhich allow the air conditioner to be moved from one room to another. ❌ THE WORST The water tankwhich with 3.5 liters will not be enough to use it for many hours in a row. 💡 BUY IT IF… You are looking for a very economical air conditioner to use in the office or bedroom for a while. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You want to use the air conditioner for many hours (such as sleeping), since for this it is recommended that the tank have a capacity of between five and eight liters. You may also be interested Orbegozo AIR 45 – 3-in-1 evaporative air conditioner, 3 speeds, directional fins, 4 l tank, removable filter, 60 W The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Orbegozo AIR 55, Evaporative air conditioning, 3 ventilation speeds, 150 W, maximum timer 12 hours, oscillating interior slats, pivoting wheels, 35 L tank, black and white color The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Lidl and Compradicción (header), Cecotec In Xataka | Best portable air conditioner. Which one to buy and seven recommended penguins In Xataka | Best evaporative air conditioners. Buying guide, opinions and best models from 50 euros

Europe has an expiration date for traditional air conditioners and is already considering alternatives: air without refrigerants

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While half of Europe fights the heat with a fan and air conditioning, in France, some businesses They have experienced real avalanches of buyers desperate to get their hands on a device before it runs out, according to they collect in Wired. Turning on these devices in half of Europe is precisely the type of situation that the European Union prefers to avoid for reasons of security. energy efficiency and consumption. However, a group of scientists and companies were already working on air conditioners that completely dispense with refrigerant gases. The first prototypes are already leaving the laboratory to be tested in real buildings. Air conditioners without refrigerants. Several research teams, most based in Europe, have developed cooling systems based on materials that change temperature by subjecting them to an external force (whether pressure, electric current or magnetic fields), instead of resorting to the traditional cycle of compression and expansion of gases. This technology is known as solid-state cooling and, according to the researchers themselves, it could completely change the way we cool our homes. Why does it matter? Conventional air conditioning works basically the same as it did a century ago, that is, a refrigerant gas circulates between a liquid and gaseous state to extract heat from a room and expel it outside. The problem is that many of these gases are extremely polluting. Fluorinated gases, the most common, can have a warming potential thousands of times greater than CO2 if they escape into the atmosphere, which is why the European Union approved in 2024 a regulation to progressively eliminate them. “In the next few years, air conditioners and heat pumps that use these gases will not even be able to be sold here,” explained to Wired Fabian Voswinkel, energy efficiency analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA). The alternatives are not perfect either, as propane is highly flammable and ammonia is toxic. In detail. One of the most advanced projects is led by Paul Motzki, a professor at Saarland University in Germany, at the head of an EU-funded consortium working with a nickel-titanium alloy. According to they collect In the middle, by stretching and releasing this metal, it recovers its original shape by absorbing heat from the environment, a phenomenon known as the elastocaloric effect. Just like account Motzki told Wired, the system could cool rooms by between 5 and 10 degrees and do so more efficiently than current equipment. The team, which collaborates with the Irish company Exergyn, is already testing a prototype in the laboratory and hopes to install it in new buildings in the coming years. If confirmed, Motzki himself describes it as a technology that “could represent a disruption, even a paradigm shift,” due to how different it is from current systems. It is not the only path that is being explored. And just as stand out In the middle, the New York company Mimic Systems tests a heat pump based on semiconductors that moves heat using electric current, with a prototype installed in a Vancouver apartment. The German firm Magnotherm, a startup that was born from the Technical University of Darmstadt, uses magnetic fields and will test its system this year in a German supermarket chain before making the leap to domestic air conditioning. And in the United Kingdom, Barocal, born from the University of Cambridge itself, is experimenting with flexible plastic crystals that release heat when compressed and decompressed. In this case, the startup has recently raised $10 million in an initial round of financing, as highlighted in TechCrunch. Between the lines. None of this is yet ready for the mass market. Lindsay Rasmussen, who works with startups like Mimic Systems and Magnotherm at climate accelerator Third Derivative, recognize that these technologies are “promising, but unproven on a large scale.” Its takeoff, he adds, will depend on whether large air conditioning manufacturers (giants like Daikin or Samsung, which already closely monitor this type of advance) decide to adopt them and produce them in volume. unbearable heat. All this happens because Europe it’s warming up faster than any other continent, and countries with traditionally mild summers are beginning to suffer increasingly intense heat waves. A study by Nicole Miranda, a researcher at the University of Oxford, point because countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway or Finland could soon experience much more demand for cooling than in any other country if global warming reaches 2 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. Still, just about 20% of European households has air conditioning (4% in the case of the United Kingdom), very far from 90% in the United States, according to IEA data. Miranda herself warns that the solution is not to buy inefficient portable devices en masse, but to offer “efficient, equitable and intelligent” refrigeration. And now what. Both Miranda and Voswinkel defend what they call a “hierarchy of cooling”, that is, first preventing buildings from overheating through trees, shade, reflective materials or natural ventilation, and only then resorting to active air conditioning, prioritizing spaces such as schools, hospitals or residences. As an example of this planning, Voswinkel cites the case of pariswhich expanded its district heating network to also distribute cold water from the Seine River through underground pipes and thus cool public buildings, ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. Cover image | Dmitrii E. and Antonio Vallejo In Xataka | Carlos Llull, air conditioning technician: “Leaving the air conditioning on all night can cost around one euro in electricity”

“Is buying an M5 MacBook Air with more RAM worth the effort?”

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When buying a new computer, RAM is one of the most important features you should look at. But of course, buying a computer model with more RAM also means spending a little more, and we don’t always know if it is worth it for the use we want to give it. One of our readers asked us about this brand, taking advantage of The Officeone of the advantages of Xataka Xtraour subscription to access exclusive newsletters, raffles, promotions and other exclusive advantages. In this case, what we offer is a direct line with us to resolve questions like this. The xatakero asked If it is worth the effort to buy a MaxBook Air M5 with more RAM. He explains to us that he is studying a master’s degree in AI, and would like to be able to make the most of this technology, although always at the user level. And that’s why he’s worried about RAM, not because it’s going wrong with the 16GB base model, but because he wants to have a future-proof Air. The question “I would like some advice. I’m going to buy the new MacBook Air M5 and I’m wondering if 24 GB of RAM is worth the effort. I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in AI and I would like to get into this, but always at the user level. I also have a 16 GB MacMini M4 and it runs smoothly. But I think about how it can get old with this AI thing, and 24GB sounds pretty good.” The answer Unlike Windows, which is an operating system that must work on all types of computers from all types of manufacturers, macOS is designed only for those manufactured by Apple. This makes it more optimized, and the RAM and hardware needs in general are different. Pedro Aznar, director of Applesfera and Apple specialist, responded to this question. The answer was the following: “Hello! I would recommend you go up to that 24 GB of RAM. The reason is that, although you mention that you will only use it at the user level, the AI ​​is going to advance a lot at the local level, and it is almost certain that you will need that extra memory to load LLMs on your Mac. Therefore, it is a good idea to anticipate that future and buy the MacBook Air M5 with that amount now. By the way, the MacBook Air M5 is a great choice for AI, as the per-core AI accelerators are much better than the previous generation for those tasks. Enjoy it!” Do you have more questions like this? The subscribers of Xataka Xtra You can send us your questions and our team will respond personally. And if you are already a subscriber, remember this advantage and that you can ask us whenever you want.

In the middle of the heat wave, there are trains in Extremadura that are running out of air conditioning. For Renfe there is only one culprit: the heat

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It is July 13 and it seems that we have settled into a perennial heat wave. And the forecasts for the coming days are not particularly promising. For this reason, it is still very important to avoid the central hours of the day and those of maximum heat to carry out outdoor activities… and other indoor activities, such as traveling by train. At least, that is what they are denouncing from CCOO, who assure that the Madrid-Extremadura trains travel without air conditioning on a regular basis. a complaint. This is what they have done at CCOO, who assure that “very frequently” the Alvia trains that travel between Madrid and Extremadura are registering failures in the air conditioning systems during heat waves. Miguel Fuentes, Secretary of Mobility of the union, assures in this statement that “this is not a one-off incident, but rather it is something systematic that is occurring in the heat waves of recent years and is creating a painful spectacle that is detrimental to the health of train users and the workers themselves.” Roasts. According to CCOO, these failures are being recorded in the Alvia S730 series trains when “outside temperatures are higher than 35 or 36 degrees.” In that case, they point out, “the air conditioning of several or all of the cars stops working and turns the trains into an oven.” The situation, despite the union’s complaint, is not new. a few days ago, The Extremadura Newspaper I already reported this incident on one of the Alvias that connect Madrid with Badajoz. That day, they point out, the passengers of the affected car were relocated to the free seats of the cars where the air conditioning did work. “In Madrid it was very hot, in Atocha, more of the same, we were looking forward to getting on the train, especially because of the concern of heat stroke and it turns out that the car runs out of air, it was the finishing touch,” said one of those affected by the Extremaduran media. What does Renfe say? In Xataka We have contacted the company who point out that “the trains undergo periodic inspections and are prepared to withstand temperatures between -10° and 40ºC” and that they understand the situation expressed by CCOO. However, they accept the following: “In exceptional circumstances, when outside temperatures exceed 40ºC as in the current heat wave, the train systems can activate automatic protection mechanisms to avoid major breakdowns. This happens because the pressure of the refrigerant gas shoots to critical levels, causing a temporary stop of the equipment until the system stabilizes. During that time, it is not possible to restart the air conditioning, which can generate incidents in the interior temperature of the train” That is, it is so hot outside that the train needs to protect itself to continue running. And when this happens, the train itself has to choose between continuing to move forward despite limiting or eliminating some functions (such as the air conditioning of one or more cars) or moving forward. Have measures been taken? Renfe assures that, without the possibility of modifying the trains, measures are being taken to safeguard the comfort and health of passengers. However, they assure that they are studying new measures that respond to the union’s requests. These measures would, therefore, be an addition to those already applied. According to the company: When these weather conditions occur, the sale of tickets is stopped to leave places free and to be able to relocate passengers. If conditions do not allow safe travel, alternatives are sought such as transferring to a fully air-conditioned train or even traveling by road. A real problem. In Xataka We have explained that heat can generate a real problem for people’s health because “kidnaps the blood”. And when we face very high heat on a sustained basis without barely moving, we are buying many tickets to faint and, if necessary, suffer heat stroke. That is why traveling refrigerated on a train is especially important. They collect in Today that between May and July there are already 15 incidents with the air conditioners that have caused Renfe trains to be left partially or completely without refrigeration. They look at Spain. The news comes just when Spain has been set as an example in countries that live above the Pyrenees. And in Germany, France or Denmark they have observed what Spain, Portugal or Italy are doing in the face of heat waves and What can they apply so that trains are not canceled?. And in these countries the railway service has been suspended because the companies were not able to ensure the health of the passengers. In the region of Bavaria (Germany), 40 degrees were recorded inside some trains. We now know that our trains, at least in part, are also not guaranteed to operate at full capacity. Photo | Falk2 and windy In Xataka | “We have six kilometers that have melted due to the heat”: in the face of extreme temperatures, France needs to Spanishize its roads

offers on evaporative air conditioners, Google phones, projectors and more

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Today is Bargain Hunting Friday after a few weeks in which we have seen many offers and in which we are experiencing a lot of heat. That is why in this article we wanted to bring together the best technology deals we’ve seen this weekwhether mobile phones, projectors or even air conditioners. Xiaomi Smart Projector L1 Pro by 169.99 eurosa home projector that comes with Google TV. Google Pixel 10a by 449 eurosthe lowest price it has had to date. Orbegozo Air 46 by 79.96 eurosan evaporative air conditioner to better cope with the summer heat. Redmi Note 15 Pro+ by 359 eurosa mobile phone that comes with a large battery. AirPods Pro 3 by 209 eurosthe best TWS headphones from Apple. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Smart Projector L1 Pro MediaMarkt is celebrating its 27th anniversary with a very attractive campaign where the Xiaomi Smart Projector L1 Pro has one of the best offers. By 169.99 euroswe are talking about a projector that comes with Google TVwhich allows us to install apps like Netflix. It also incorporates speakers, projects an image with a diagonal of between 40 and 120 inches and offers a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080p. Xiaomi Smart Projector L1 Pro The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Google Pixel 10a If you like the raspberry color and want to wear it on a mobile phone, Amazon has the Google Pixel 10aan excellent mobile for 449 euros what it costs right now (it is its minimum price). Of course, it is only on sale in this color. It comes with 256 GB of internal storage, incorporates the Tensor G4 processor and its screen offers a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Google Pixel 10a (256GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Orbegozo Air 46 Now that we are going through a very hot season, it is important that we take into account whether or not we need a device that allows us to cope better with the summer. He Orbegozo Air 46 right now it costs 79.96 euros in El Corte Inglés (at the same price on Amazon, although the store will take a few days to ship it. It is a evaporative air conditioner which also has a fan and humidifier function, incorporates a six-liter tank and has a timer of up to seven hours. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Redmi Note 15 Pro+ If the Google mobile phone does not convince you because of the raspberry color or because it is too expensive, be careful when it comes to Redmi Note 15 Pro+ from Xiaomi that is now on MediaMarkt for 359 euros. It stands out above all for its large 6,500 mAh battery with 100W fast charging, but also for its screen compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ or ​​its Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ (256GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links AirPods Pro 3 Also in El Corte Inglés (and other stores) we can find the best Apple TWS headphones on sale. We talk about the AirPods Pro 3 that have gone down to 209 euros. They are headphones that provide excellent sound quality, their noise cancellation is very good, the battery lasts approximately between six and seven hours with active noise cancellation and they come with a heart rate sensor. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Nintendo, Orbegozo, Google, Apple In Xataka | Best home theater projectors 2026. Which one to buy and 9 recommended models from 299 to 5,999 euros In Xataka | Best truly wireless earbuds (TWS) with noise cancellation. Which one to buy and seven recommended models

“Leaving the air conditioning on all night can cost around a euro in electricity”

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The torrid nights with thermometers that refuse to drop below 25 degrees are already here with us, with several heat waves that we have suffered in a chained way. At these moments you may think about the possibility of using the air conditioning at night, but the fear of the amount that will arrive on the electricity bill is always there. But the reality is that there are situations where this expense is not so exorbitant. Exorbitant consumption. Leaving the air on for eight hours of sleep can cost us around one euro. This is how Carlos Llull, air conditioning technician, explains it. who points out thatin an average scenario with modern equipment, the economic impact is much less than we usually imagine. Through a publication On his Instagram account, which has gone viral, he pointed out that “leaving the air conditioning on for 8 hours at night can cost around one euro in electricity.” And there are more voices. Beyond this phrase that can give us peace of mind in our pockets, Álex Bermúdez, energy expert, reduces This figure is even further stated by stating that, depending on the programmed degrees and the thermal characteristics of the room, the cost of an entire night can be barely around 0.45 euros. But with these gurus announcing this, the question is obvious: How is it possible if a domestic air conditioner usually has an installed power of between 1,000 and 2,000 W? And the answer is in the inverter systems of the most modern equipment. The mathematics. If we use logic, it is quite simple to calculate the consumption of an air conditioner, since it ‘simply’ multiplies the maximum power of the device by the eight hours that it can be kept on during the night. And this would only be correct if you literally lived in an oven without windows and the equipment had to work at its maximum constantly, something that does not happen in most cases. Modern inverter compressors do not work with an obsolete binary on/off system, but their motor is capable of self-regulation when starting at high power to reach the desired temperature, but once achieved, it modulates its work and drastically reduces the revolutions to simply maintain the environment. This means that, during most of the early morning hours, and helped by the fact that the outside temperature also drops, the equipment barely consumes a minimal fraction of its maximum capacity. It depends on several factors. Of course, that euro per night is not a guaranteed flat rate, but rather a measurement that depends on a delicate thermodynamic balance in your home. The first of them is the set temperature, since, as the IDAE runsthe ideal temperature in summer should be between 23 and 26 ºC. Each degree lowered will mean an increase of between 6 and 8% in energy consumption. Insulation is also essential, since a room with thermal leaks, as can occur with old windows, will lose cold quickly, forcing the compressor to exit its maintenance mode and work at higher power throughout the night. The energy rate. This is a fundamental factor, since the final cost of using the air at night will vary depending on whether the rate is in the regulated marketwhere early morning prices can be very low, or if you have a free market rate with an agreed kWh price. Optimize consumption. As the OCU points outit is important not to turn on the air at the minimum temperature to “cool quickly”, since it is inefficient, and that is why it should always be programmed from the beginning to the desired temperature. But in addition, you must take advantage of the ‘ECO’ or ‘Sleep’ mode that many air conditioners already include so that the temperature is gradually adjusted throughout the early morning. Images | Zulfugar Karimov In Xataka | What is energy efficiency and why is it a saving that matters more than ever?

How China is reinventing building air conditioning without using more electricity

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When the heat hits is when those of us who live in historically cool latitudes seriously consider installing large-scale air conditioners and if not, ask France, in whose capital its underground system It seems not to be enough for what is coming our way. But there are entire cities and countries that are ahead of us in that “historically cool Europe” in terms of air conditioning. This is the case of China: there the air conditioning of their buildings goes beyond the simple air conditioner or passive architecture: there are communities that are already cooling their shared outdoor spaces by spraying mist water from the roofs. The rain in Seville Shanxi it’s a wonder. As explains Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Yuncheng, a city in central China’s Shanxi province, there is a residential area where roofs rain: a water spray cooling system capable of reducing surface temperatures by 5 to 8 ° C in a matter of minutes. This other similar spray system called HY-WSWD report drops of up to 10°C in roof temperature and savings of 20-30% in air conditioning consumption. Although it is a political official who shares the system, it does not seem that it is a state air conditioning policy (for the moment), but rather a solution adopted individually by several sprinkler irrigation communities, as they explain in Sina. The principle of operation is essentially the same as a evaporative air conditioner XXL, so it is neither technically revolutionary nor new. In fact, that HY-WSWD is a product that has been on sale since at least 2025. Why is it important. To begin with, because China is the largest consumer of electricity for air conditioning on the planet and its peaks in electricity demand in summer are directly related to the use of air conditioning, as documented by the International Energy Agencywhich also warns that it will get worse: in Asia the demand for refrigeration in Asia will triple before 2050. Any technology that reduces the temperature of the building before using the air conditioning is good news for the grid. As quantifies scienceevaporative cooling systems reduce energy consumption by 30-40% compared to conventional air conditioning systems. Tap to go to the post and watch the video. x Context. We said that the system is not new, it is actually very old (for this type of technology). In the United States there are a patent from the 70s designed for industrial warehouses and discarded for residential use for aesthetic and another from the late 80’s more discreet that contemplates its application in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Furthermore, this evaporative misting in urban areas already applied in hot and dry cities like Phoenix or Tempe (Arizona). Although we are mentioning several American initiatives, the paradoxical reality is that China has its own architectural precedent and it is much older: more than a thousand years ago, the Hanliang Hall of Daming Palace from the Tang dynasty used a circulating cooling system: hydraulic wheels propelled cold water to the roof, letting it fall from the four eaves in the form of a curtain of water that cooled the outer perimeter of the room. In detail. What is striking about the case is not so much the technology, but the scale: covering complete roofs of entire residential blocks to cool the building as a whole and the surrounding areas instead of concentrating the misting in specific points of outdoor comfort, as happens in so many bar terraces in the West or does the Madrid City Council itself, which has installed nebulizers in squares and streets of the city. In this sense, it represents a paradigm shift compared to traditional split when it comes to understanding air conditioning: conventional air conditioning units do not eliminate heat, they move it from the inside to the outside through the compressor, and that residual heat is expelled by thousands of individual units. contributes to intensifying the nocturnal urban heat island. This system that is becoming fashionable in China, on the other hand, intervenes in the building’s own thermal environment (the roof exposed to the sun) before that heat generates a load that the compressor has to expel outwards again. Thus, the thermal difference between inside and outside is reduced at the source: the microdroplets expose a lot of surface area to the air, accelerating evaporation, which extracts latent heat from the roof and the surrounding air without the need for refrigerants. Yes, but. The kryptonite of evaporative air conditioners is the humidityor in other words, this system is only effective in locations with dry climates such as Shanxi, which has a semi-arid continental climate. Of course, in cities in humid southern China like Shenzhen it would be much less effective. In humid and hot environments, high temperatures become a real nightmare and evaporative air conditioners do not work: they raise the relative humidity, worsening thermal comfort. On the other hand, this is a system that continuously consumes water, a precious commodity that is scarce in some places, which poses a dilemma between energy savings and water stress. In Xataka | Best quality-price air conditioners 2026. Which one to buy and seven recommended models for less than 800 euros In Xataka | Air conditioning is the new great political weapon in France: why environmentalists and the extreme right are fighting over it Cover | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China via Twitter

In the midst of a heat wave, Europe has started buying air conditioners in droves. And China can’t cope

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I don’t know anyone who likes air conditioning, especially for sleeping. However, when the heat hits, it is impossible to spend the days indoors. if we don’t have the device on. The problem is that I am speaking from the position of a Spaniard who lives in La Mancha, where air conditioners practically come with houses. Further north or in the rest of Europe, directly, the air conditioning with 20% penetration in houses, it is a mythological animal. It was, rather. With the current heat wavecountries like France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have started buying air conditioning units like crazy only to find themselves with a problem: China is the main supplier and the manufacturers cannot cope. And I’m not going to say that air conditioners now are geopolitics, but a little… yes. Let’s see it. It’s hot and there is no solution. Two weeks ago I was at Vivatech, in Paris, and this past weekend in London and Liverpool. At 29º, the Apple Watch showed me that in Paris They were on orange alert by heat. 29º in my land is a slightly hot spring day (unfortunately). In the United Kingdom, however, things changed and it wasn’t just incredibly hot: when you entered an establishment it was even worse. Not only do they not have air conditioners because they have not needed them, but have built so that the houses retain heat. A taxi driver told me that the best time of day is when he is working because his house is a sauna, and it makes perfect sense. Spain and France are two of the most affected countriesbut northern Italy, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Germany and the aforementioned United Kingdom are also suffering the consequences. And the problem is no longer that it is hot, but that mortality due to heat has skyrocketed in recent weeks. The solution? The north of Spain and European countries have started buying air conditioning units like crazy, but there is a problem. Exhausted. The middle SCMP He has a representative in Paris and tells how, a few days ago, he approached several businesses to try to get an air conditioner. The answer that he found in several of them, and that some friends reported to him, is that everything was sold. The scene is like something out of an apocalyptic movie, with stores with shelves full of everything except the air conditioning section, which is empty. He started looking at online stores, such as a German website designed so that people can find specific models of these devices and, after searching 1,176 stores, the model he wanted was only in one of them. In these countries where air conditioning is not normal, people go out to cool off in fountains and rivers, and even French President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the population pointing out that it is impossible for them to adapt “to a peak that has no equivalent anywhere in Europe today and that has never had an equivalent in our history.” Perhaps he has become a little heated with that statement, but it reflects that the situation is becoming unsustainable. And you would think that the solution is to start importing more, right? The problem is that it is not that simple. Bottleneck in production. China, as with other everyday devices, is the main manufacturer of air conditioners. Brands such as Haier, Gree, Hisense or Midea are some of those that lead the market, even creating models adapted to European regulations in certain countries (such as the Midea PortaSplit for windows, which makes little noise and has a very low refrigerant charge, ideal for Germany). There are others like Xiaomi (whose model we analyzed last year and a year later I confirm that it is still going great), Dreo with its fans or Dreame that are starting to bring their models to Europe because they have seen that they definitely have a pull. Only in May, esteem that China exported air conditioners worth $3.33 million to France, $2.82 million to Germany and a whopping $7.69 million to the Netherlands. It implies an increase of 186.2%, 69.6% and 139.1% respectively compared to the previous year. This percentage in France is explained if we take into account that, according to French data, only between 18% and 26% of homes had air conditioning until then. Also in logistics. Another problem is that these brands mentioned do not manufacture only for themselves, but for other manufacturers that sell OEM equipment, which implies that the factories are full. It is estimated that China accounts for 40% of global air conditioning exports and, to meet that demand, some manufacturers have begun to work day and night to satisfy European demand. “China cannot ship air conditioners fast enough to meet European demand” They are prioritizing more portable models and split for Europe because they have seen a huge market, but they cannot multiply production indefinitely without incurring overcapacity the rest of the year. Giants like Cainiao, AliExpress or Joybuy they are meeting with a brutal bottleneck because, although they have had units in advance trying to tackle this summer’s situation, they have simply… flown out of European warehouses. And in the installation. Faced with this situation, and seeing that heat waves are increasingly common, Europe estimated in 2024 that expected 70 million AC devices to be installed by 2030. This would mean covering 35% of European homes, but if all these factors were not already a salad of problems full of ingredients, two more are added. The first, the regulation of each city. In Spain we are used to seeing the typical indoor split unit with a compressor hanging from the façade, but there are important heritage restrictions in historic centers that allow drilling into walls or altering the aesthetics of buildings. In neighborhood communities you must ask for permission, there are fines for installation on facades without authorization (in Italy, for example) and the price of electricity doesn’t help … Read more

“Many do not check the air conditioning gas because they do not spend 60 euros and the breakdown is 400”

by

To no one’s surprise, this weekend it will be hot. The news is not that it will be hot in Spain the first weekend of July, the news is that we are on our way to burning this summer. To lighten the drama a little, we can look for remedies to cool our houses, get the most out of our air conditioning and strictly follow the usual recommendations so as not to cause new health problems. But although it is recommended that we leave the long trips for the less hot hours of the day, we all know that is not always possible. The heat, a car full to the brim and a vehicle that has not been serviced in a timely manner are the best ingredients for having a problem. One that can leave us stranded in the ditch, which is not always pleasant when the sun beats down on the asphalt. The key is foresight (of course) Just as when we go on a trip we mentally write down a few details to take into account (take some water for the road, look for the least hot hours, keep an eye on Google Maps and look for a place to eat…), doing the same with our car before leaving will also save us a lot of trouble. “The key is to anticipate,” he assures us. Xavier Celda, Market Manager, Workshop Specialist at Norauto Spain. “The best remedy is always preventive maintenance. Have the car ready and checked to prevent all this from happening as much as possible.” They think the same from Midas. Francisco Javier Fuentes, mechanic and trainer at Midas Spainpoints out that “the best way to avoid breakdowns resulting from heat is to opt for preventive maintenance.” And both focus on four key points to review: Coolant liquid Tires Battery Air-conditioning Given the high heat that we have to face, Xavier Celda is clear that the first thing to look at is “the coolant. We must check that it is at the correct levels and, above all, that it has not lost its properties (it is recommended to replace it every 2 or 4 years according to the manufacturer).” And he warns: “a small leak or not changing this fluid can cause extreme overheating in the engine. This usually leads to the breakage of the head gasket, one of the most feared breakdowns whose cost on the market can exceed 1,000 euros, depending on the model.” Francisco Javier Fuentes makes the same recommendation but points out something very important: “in case of overheating, I never recommend opening the coolant tank while the engine is hot, since there is a risk of serious burns. The best thing to do is to turn off the engine, wait for it to cool and call for assistance. if required”. Checking the tires, they both match, it is essential. Always when cold, we must check the tire pressures and follow the manufacturer’s instructions if we are going to fill the trunk with packages and the passenger compartment. Firstly because any imbalance will cause constant deterioration of the moving parts of the car but, above all, for a matter of safety. And not having adequate pressure can cause greater instability, lengthen braking or, if wear is excessive, induce a blowout. The most frequent breakdowns Although this is the most important thing to look at before leaving home, Norauto and Midas point out two major victims due to the heat. The most common fault, according to both experts, is the battery. “Extreme heat accelerates the degradation of the internal components of the battery and evaporates water from the electrolyte. It is the number one cause of roadside assistance in summer and one of the main reasons why people visit our workshops during these months of intense heat,” they explain from Norauto. And they repeat from Midas: “The battery is sensitive to temperatures above 25 °C. (As a result of extreme heat) its useful life is reduced when it is continuously exposed to high temperatures.” This fault can leave us stranded at any point when we have stopped the car but there is another big signal that can leave us stranded while moving. It is not essential to continue but it has become essential to travel comfortably. It is, of course, the air conditioning. Xavier Celda, from Norauto, is clear that investing a few euros can save us a major breakdown and, above all, the inconveniences of not being able to have air conditioning: “Many drivers do not refill the gas or check the circuit until the air stops cooling completely. The problem is that forcing the system to work at the limit without the appropriate level of gas and oil can end up seizing the air conditioning compressor, a part whose replacement costs more than 400 euros, compared to the 60 or 90 euros that a recharge and preventive diagnosis costs” And although we think of air conditioning as an element of comfort, it is also an element of security. According to the Foundation for Road Safety (FESVIAL)“driving at a temperature of 35ºC, inside a vehicle, can represent a risk similar to that of being under the influence of a blood alcohol level between 0.5 and 0.8 gr/l.” According to their data, when driving with such a high interior temperature, “approximately 20% of traffic signs are not perceived and serious driver errors increase by up to 35%.” In fact, they claim that the probability of suffering an accident increases between 15 and 25%. Photo | Windy and Paréj Richárd In Xataka | Resolving one of the great debates of the summer: whether the car consumes more with air conditioning or not

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