No, air conditioning (AC) is not common in most German homes, though its use is slowly increasing due to hotter summers, with many relying on portable units or traditional methods like shutters and fans. Historically, Germans used external shutters (Rolladens) and well-insulated buildings to stay cool, viewing AC as an unnecessary energy-intensive luxury, but rising temperatures are changing attitudes, especially for renters and in public spaces like offices.
Most homes in Germany – and in northwest Europe — don't have AC and haven't really needed it until heat waves became more frequent in recent years. Now that summer temperatures are scorching, many are finding the most manageable way to cool down is with a portable unit.
While nearly 90% of US homes have air conditioning, in Europe it's around 20%, and some countries have much lower rates. In the United Kingdom, only around 5% of homes have cooling systems — many of which are portable AC units. In Germany, the figure is 3%.
China. China is the world's leading user of air conditioning with approximately 569 million units in use countrywide. The country's formidable energy infrastructure, along with rising affordability, has helped to fuel the widespread use of cooling systems.
In the U.S., 90% of households have AC. In Europe? Just 20% on average. In some countries, such as the UK, that number falls to less than 5%.
You are free to buy and operate an AC in Germany if you want to, no law will stop you. Just because most people in a country don't want to buy or use something does not mean that they are "hostile" towards it and are under pressure to justify their behavior. The majority of people worldwide do not have an AC at home.
The most air-conditioned country in Europe is Italy, whose air-conditioning usage correlates to its intensely hot summers and life-threatening heatwaves.
The number of Australian households with air conditioning has grown dramatically over recent decades, from 330,000 units installed per year in 2010 to 1.5 million a year in 2022. Today, over 18 million units are in use across the country.
The 3-minute rule is a simple but important guideline: wait at least three minutes after turning your air conditioner off before turning it back on. That short pause gives the refrigerant pressure in the system time to equalize.
Daikin is considered the No. 1 AC brand globally, known for its advanced inverter technology, superior energy efficiency, and durable performance. The brand is a leader in HVAC solutions, offering cutting-edge cooling systems that provide excellent performance while reducing power consumption.
That's because German buildings are constructed with thick walls and good insulation – keeping your apartment warm in winter and cool in summer, as long as you don't introduce the external heat of sunlight!
Luckily, when it's hot in Germany (> 30°C), it's generally a Saharan high-pressure system and relative humidity is almost always quite low (< 40%). I find that having windows/blinds closed and strategically placed fans in the apartment works best.
One in eight German households already use air conditioning – survey | Clean Energy Wire.
Mit dem Ausdruck Spülung (Haarspülung, Pflegespülung) bzw. Conditioner (engl.
Nearly all cars in Germany now have air conditioning standard. If you really want luxury, you may also want to inquire about renting a high-end German sports car or sedan; most rental agencies keep ample numbers of these available for those tourists with the desire and corresponding budget.
The "AC 5000 rule" (or $5,000 rule) is a common HVAC guideline: multiply your air conditioner's age (in years) by the repair cost; if the total exceeds $5,000, replacing the unit is generally more cost-effective than repairing it. This rule helps homeowners decide if it's better to invest in a new, more efficient system versus sinking money into an aging one, but it's a guideline, not a strict law, with other factors like energy efficiency and warranty also influencing the decision.
The best temperature for air conditioning is a matter of fierce debate within a household, but experts have narrowed it down to a particular range. Between 72 and 78 degrees is often just right to stay comfortable, keep your energy expenses reasonable, and manage humidity, too.
How cool should my house be if it's 100 outside? Your AC can typically cool about 20°F below the outdoor temperature, so if it's 100°F outside, maintaining 78–80°F indoors is reasonable.
“Air conditioning has been pretty much actively discouraged by the UK government until now,” Andrew Sissons of innovation charity Nesta, told London Centric. Research by the government in 2021 estimated there were only around 10,000 permanent domestic air conditioning units in the whole of the UK.
According to The Sleep Charity, the ideal bedroom temperature for sleeping is 16–18°C. Anything over 24°C could be too hot and make you restless, while trying to sleep in a cold room with a temperature below 12°C could make it harder to nod off.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the best AC temperature for saving energy is 75–78°F (25.5°C) when you're at home and need cooling. Increase the temperature by about 7°F when no one is home to significantly reduce energy consumption.
Suffice it to say when it comes to “comfort cooling” or residential A/C, we simply do not have enough hot days each summer to justify expense of installing, operating, and maintaining A/C. In Germany we need over 650 hours with a dry-bulb temperature above 26.7 degrees Celsius, or 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the level of air pollution in your city? Stockholm, Reykjavik and Helsinki rank as the cleanest European capital cities in terms of air quality in the updated European Environment Agency's (EEA) European city air quality viewer published today.
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