The Cooling Gap: Why the U.S. Gets More Air Conditioning Than Europe as Heat Rises

A Space Daily analysis contrasts the U.S. and Europe on air conditioning: about 90% of American homes have AC versus roughly 20% in Europe, even as European summers warm roughly twice the global average. While AC saves lives during heatwaves, it boosts electricity demand and emissions, complicating grid and policy choices. Adoption in Europe is uneven and hampered by cost and infrastructure, but countries like Italy and the UK are increasing penetration. The gap persists amid ongoing warming and debates over energy-efficient, solar-powered cooling versus traditional, grid-heavy cooling.