Kenneth Glad
Extreme summer temperatures are putting homes designed for milder weather under pressure. Governments are weighing how buildings, household budgets and cooling systems can respond when prolonged heat becomes dangerous.
A YouGov poll reported by The Guardian found broad support for easier access to air conditioning in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK after several periods of severe summer heat.
Between 30% and 52% of respondents said temperatures near or above 40C had made them worry about their household’s health. Problems keeping homes cool were particularly common in Germany and France, while respondents in Spain reported them less frequently.
Majorities across all six countries favoured air conditioning being fitted as standard in new homes. Simpler rules for installing systems also received widespread support, as did subsidies aimed specifically at homeowners.
The polling nevertheless suggests that mechanical cooling is only part of what people expect from heat policy. Insulation, exterior shutters and reflective roofs were among the building changes respondents wanted governments to consider, and passive measures performed strongly when people were asked where public policy should focus.
Costs influence cooling choices
Ownership of air conditioning did not appear to correspond with weaker concern about climate change, according to the YouGov results reported by The Guardian. Opposition to the technology itself was relatively limited across most of the surveyed countries, although resistance was more noticeable in France.
When respondents were asked to choose between encouraging air conditioning to reduce heatwave harm and giving priority to lower carbon dioxide emissions, cooling received more support in five countries. Italy was the exception.
Air-conditioning ownership was much higher in Italy and Spain than in Germany, Poland and the UK. The contrast with the US is considerable: The Guardian reported that 93% of people there have access to a central or portable system.
Price remained a major obstacle for people without air conditioning, generally outweighing environmental concerns. Running a system could create further pressure on household finances, with some owners in France, Italy and Spain reporting that electricity costs affected how freely they used cooling or what they could spend elsewhere. Those with air conditioning were nevertheless substantially more likely to say their homes remained comfortable during recent heatwaves.
Source: The Guardian/YouGov
