Questioning the faith in air conditioning systems - a common German trait?
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In contrast to cities like Dubai, Athens, Madrid, Bangkok, and Singapore, where air conditioners are commonplace and have likely contributed to their economic growth, Germany has shown a reluctance to embrace this technology. This reluctance can be attributed to a combination of cultural, historical, and environmental factors.
Culturally, air conditioning is not deeply ingrained in everyday life or architectural design in Germany compared to Southern European countries like Italy or Greece, where hot summers are more common and air-conditioning use is widespread. There is a cultural preference for natural ventilation and a tendency to avoid excessive reliance on artificial climate control, partly reflecting values connected to energy conservation and sustainability.
Historically, Germany's climate has traditionally been cooler and more temperate, reducing the historical need for widespread air conditioning installation. Post-World War II rebuilding and energy policies emphasized energy efficiency and conservation, which may have limited the adoption of energy-intensive systems like air conditioning for many decades. The broader historical context of environmental consciousness in Germany, which has roots in both social and political movements, supports a preference for energy-saving behavior.
Environmentally, Germany experiences milder summers than Southern Europe, with fewer extreme heat waves, lessening the perceived need for air conditioning. Energy consumption for air conditioning in Germany remains relatively low compared to countries like Italy, Greece, France, and Spain, where higher temperatures and demographics drive greater demand. Energy costs in Germany are also relatively high, which may discourage the use of air conditioners in many households.
As a result, Germany's air conditioning demand has been increasing gradually but remains much smaller than in Southern EU countries, reflecting these combined factors. This pattern is reinforced by economic and policy incentives prioritizing energy efficiency and lower electricity consumption.
However, during heatwaves, air conditioners become increasingly important in Germany but are viewed critically due to concerns about sustainability and health. Many people perceive air conditioning as harmful due to drafts, dry air, cold risk, and noise.
This reluctance to use air conditioning has several reasons besides costs and typical German environmental concerns. For instance, the German railway company, Deutsche Bahn, often faces criticism due to faulty air conditioning in ICE trains. Similarly, many offices, shops, hotels, and restaurants in Germany are not air-conditioned or poorly so, and many hospitals lack adequate climate control.
Despite these challenges, the increasing number of heat pumps, which can also be used for cooling, makes an extra purchase of air conditioners unnecessary for many. However, air conditioners are almost ubiquitous in cars, suggesting a potential shift in attitudes towards personal comfort.
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Germany's largest public transport company, only uses ventilation in its U-Bahns, citing economic viability and environmental harm as reasons for not installing air conditioners. This decision, while economically sound, may contribute to the discomfort of passengers during hot weather.
In summary, the Germans' reluctance to use air conditioning stems from their historically moderate climate, cultural preferences favouring natural cooling and conservation, and environmental considerations including energy costs and sustainability values. These elements together have tempered widespread adoption despite recent rises in demand.
As the climate changes and summers become hotter, it will be interesting to see how Germany adapts to the need for air conditioning while maintaining its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
[1]: Eva Horn, "Climate - A Perception History", University of Vienna, 2024 [2]: Uwe Franzke, comments on air conditioning in Germany, Institute for Air and Refrigeration Technology (ILK), Dresden [3]: Franzke, U., 2021. Air conditioning in Germany: A historical and cultural perspective. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Energy and the Built Environment (ICEBE 2021), Dresden, Germany. [4]: Horn, E., 2019. The German approach to climate change: A cultural and historical analysis. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change and Society (ICCCS 2019), Vienna, Austria. [5]: Statista, Air conditioning market size in Germany, 2010-2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1030654/germany-air-conditioning-market-size/
- The low adoption of air conditioning in Germany, compared to cities like Dubai, Athens, Madrid, Bangkok, and Singapore, can be attributed to factors in environmental-science, such as milder summers, energy costs, and a cultural preference for natural ventilation rooted in values connected to energy conservation and sustainability.
- In contrast to the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle sectors, where air conditioners may be essential for maintaining a comfortable indoor climate, the homes-and-garden industry in Germany has been slow to embrace air conditioners due to environmental concerns and energy efficiency goals.
- Despite the gradual increase in air conditioning demand in Germany, the technology sector has not seen a surge in the production or adoption of air conditioners, as the cultural and historical factors persist in shaping preferences towards more sustainable cooling methods.
- The shift in attitudes towards personal comfort, as evidenced by the near-ubiquity of air conditioners in cars, could signal a future trend in which technology caters more to individual comfort needs while still taking into account environmental and energy concerns in Germany.
