Why does Italy not use AC?

For the record, many Italians don't like air conditioning. They think it's bad, and even dangerous, for your body to have to rapidly adjust between the heat and the cold.

Is air conditioning common in Italy?

In Italy, 7 percent of homes are air-conditioned, and in Spain 11 percent, compared with 71 percent in the United States and more than 90 percent in Japan. Hotels, post offices, police stations, even hospitals, except for operating rooms, generally do not have air-conditioning.

Why is AC not common in Europe?

Europe's building stock is old. In most EU countries, more than half the residential building stock was constructed before 1970. As a result, very few homes were built with A/C.

Is it true Europe doesn't have AC?

Air-conditioned offices are commonplace in Europe, but it is exceedingly rare to find AC units in homes. According to one industry estimate, just 3 percent of homes in Germany and less than 5 percent of homes in France have air conditioning.

How do Italians stay cool in the summer?

In the U.S. shutters have devolved into being only a decoration, screwed in the open position. In Italy they actually work and are a necessity. Close shutters in your rooms before going out for the day and your home away from home will be cooler when you get back. This is especially important for the midday period.

Italians don't use air conditioning

Why is Italy so hot in the summer?

The Italian climate is influenced by the large body of water of the Mediterranean Seas that surrounds Italy on every side except the north. These seas constitute a reservoir of heat and humidity for Italy.

Is Italy too hot in summer?

It is too hot for most people unless visiting a coast, where you can cool off in water or with the ocean breeze. Rains are rare in the summer in Italy.

Is AC illegal in Switzerland?

In order to save energy, the installation of conventional air conditioning systems is generally banned. Local ordinance requires all applicants for authorisation to prove that the air conditioner is particularly energy-efficient.

Why do Americans have air conditioning?

2. Americans with AC like to keep their homes chilly. American households are far more likely to have AC than their European counterparts in part because cool air has always been a necessity in some regions of the U.S., like the humid South and the desert Southwest.

Are most hotels in Italy air conditioned?

Unlike in Canada and the United States, most European homes and apartments — and even lots of hotels — don't have air conditioning (AC). That's right. A hot summer night and no AC to keep you cool.

Is AC illegal in Germany?

During the summer months, temperatures in Germany can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer, and for residents of U.S. Army Garrisons these temperatures can prove uncomfortable. Though air conditioning units might seem an adequate solution, housing regulations prohibit their use.

Why don't Germans use AC?

Most German homes do not have air conditioning and while there are many factors to consider, primarily: air conditioning is highly inefficient; it's expensive to install and operate; it's not cost effective, and it's only really beneficial for a few weeks out of each summer.

What country uses the most air conditioning?

The current household penetration rate for air conditioning is above 90% in Japan and the US, but it is just 60% in China. It's below 20% in large, hot countries like Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and India.

How do you keep cool in Italy?

Do hotels in Italy have AC?

The most common frustration for our North American guests is the lack of control over the temperature in their rooms. Electricity is expensive in Italy, so hotels try to minimize the use of air conditioning.

What percent of Italy has AC?

According to the Istat Report on Household Energy Consumption in 2021, half of Italian households (48.8%) have air conditioning. The percentage is 51.2% in the South, 49.1% in the North and 44.2% in the Center.

Why don't people have air conditioning in Hawaii?

Energy is expensive in Hawaii with costs for electricity so high that most people can't afford to take advantage of air conditioning.

Why doesn t France have air conditioning?

In a 2021 OpinionWay poll of 1,045 French adults (conducted, it must be said, for a company that makes heat pumps), almost two in three respondents said they did not plan to buy an air conditioner. The top two reasons cited were energy costs and environmental impacts.

Why does England not have AC?

“We are a heating-dominated country, not a cooling-dominated country,” said Tadj Oreszczyn, a professor of energy and environment at the University College London Energy Institute. He added: “We haven't designed our homes historically to cope with overheating. We've designed them to keep ourselves warm.”

Why is window AC banned in Europe?

To cool down our rooms, air conditioning systems use refrigerant gases, which have always been very problematic for our environment. The European Union banned the use of the harmful CFC gases in the early 90s, as they were depleting the ozone layer.

Do people have AC in China?

Although people in Guangzhou or Hainan might not need them at all, places like Shanghai, Nanjing, or Chongqing get pretty cold during winter. Therefore, Chinese consumers use AC also for heating their homes during winter months.

Do they have AC in China?

In most places in China, it seems the AC is set at about 77 – 80 degrees F, enough to take the edge off the heat but not enough to give an unpleasant chill.

How do Italians survive the heat?

What month is hottest in Italy?

Italy has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. If you're a sunseeker the best time to visit Italy is between June and September. The hottest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 24 C and an average low of 17 C.