In Britain, government estimates suggest that less than 5 percent of homes in England have AC units installed. Part of this is because, historically, there was simply far less reason to cool the air in Paris, France, than in Paris, Tex.
There are several reasons why few Brits have air-conditioning—the most obvious being the country's relatively mild weather. Average summer temperatures range between 55°F (13°C) and 75°F (24°C), and winters can last up to five months.
According to a study by Mintel in 2008, just 0.5% of UK homes had any form of built-in air conditioning. For comparison, in the US more than 100 million homes have some form of ACU. This is down to a few key factors. Generally, homes within the UK are far older than those in the US.
Most houses in the UK are brick and well insulated. Not only does that mean they don't loose heat to badly in low temperatures but they don't heat up quickly in hot temperatures. A peak temperature at about 13:00 won't have penetrated the house for a few hours by which time it's cooled off.
In the UK, the two words have similar levels of usage, and in tropical Singapore (where usage of aircons is close to being a necessity), the term "aircon" is considerably more widely used than the term "AC".
Before installing your commercial air conditioning system, you may need planning permission. Planning permission is the process of getting approval from the local government for work done on your building. Whether your property needs planning permission depends on the location and size of the air conditioning units.
Part of this is because, historically, there was simply far less reason to cool the air in Paris, France, than in Paris, Tex. European countries had warm summers, but they rarely reached the sort of persistently high temperatures seen in the American South.
Percentage of households with AC worldwide 2016, by country
The statistic shows the share of households that have air-conditioning worldwide in 2016, by country. Japan ranked the highest in air-conditioning penetration rate, with around 91 percent of Japanese households having some form of air-conditioning.
The Queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace, does not have air conditioning. In addition to its location in the temperate climate of Britain, this city provides natural ventilation by having open windows that allow it to cool down and breathe.
Rising greenhouse gas emissions also mean that higher temperatures are now more common than they have been over the past two decades. That means the average temperature for mid-July has risen, the Met Office said, leading to its changes.
Stay indoors
If you have to be outside, cover up with light, loose-fitting clothes, wear a hat, sun cream and sunglasses, and keep in the shade as much as you can. If you are exercising, or walking the dog, try to do so when it is cooler, in the morning or evening.
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.
Unlike American properties, basements are uncommon in British homes. Most houses in England built since the 1960s don't have basements – due to the high-water table in many areas, flood risk, and the popularity of concrete foundations.
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.
Many of us have become accustomed to having air conditioning when travelling so it can be concerning when you start reading that most of London does not have air-conditioning available. Let's get to the important question, do you need air-conditioning in London? No, you don't, unless London is experiencing a heatwave.
This is pretty much standard fitment on every new car sold in the UK. Operated by an AC button on the dashboard, the air conditioning system is able to heat or cool air flowing into the car.
Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The King, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every summer. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
The monarch has a private indoor swimming pool at Buckingham Palace, which has long been a favourite spot for the entire royal family.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach, however, is equipped with modern amenities including air conditioning, heating, power windows, and hydraulic suspension. It was created for Queen Elizabeth II and presented to her in 2012 to celebrate her then 60-year reign.
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.
Households in more temperate climates are less likely to have an air conditioner. The Census Bureau's 2019 American Housing Survey includes data from 10 states. Of these states, households in California and Colorado are much more likely to not have air conditioning than the much warmer states of Texas and Florida.
Instead of using the moment to embrace A/C, European leaders have mostly shunned the technology or moved to limit its use. In Spain, for example, the government this week began requiring that A/C in public places be set no lower than 80 degrees—following similar measures in Italy and Greece.
For non-administrative areas such as residential housing, the policies allow for air conditioning only in locations where the dry bulb temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer during the warmest six months of the year for 650 hours or more.
But Spain is the latest European country to conclude that the restrictions are necessary, in part to promote energy efficiency but also to reduce the country's consumption of Russian gas, as called for by the European Union.
According to the most recent results from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 88% of U.S. households use air conditioning (AC).