Demand for cooling devices in Germany rose by 75 percent between 2019 and 2024, as DW reports. Yet the share of homes with permanently installed air conditioners remains low: only six percent of apartments and houses have one. For comparison, in the US the figure is around 90 percent, and in southern Europe, such as Spain, about half.
One reason is the construction of German homes, traditionally designed for winter insulation – not summer cooling. Tenancy law adds to the problem: many tenants are contractually prohibited from installing an air conditioner, and landlords shy away from investing in someone else’s property. In historic old towns, heritage protection rules further complicate installation.
The urgency is growing: on June 28, Germany recorded a new temperature record of 41.7 degrees Celsius. The heatwave even caused cracks on the A2 motorway. UN climate scientists expect extreme heat periods to become more frequent and longer in the future.
Source: 24tv.ua
