Questioning the reliability of air conditioning systems - seemingly a common German sentiment?
In the private sector, there's an increasing willingness to invest in air conditioning, but Franzke, from the non-university Institute for Air and Refrigeration Technology (ILK) in Dresden, does not see a similar change in public administration and similar institutions. This trend contrasts with the wider world, where air conditioning has been on the rise for decades.
The lack of air conditioning in many German hospitals can be problematic for patients and staff, especially during heatwaves. However, the reluctance towards air conditioning in Germany is largely rooted in cultural values emphasizing environmental sustainability, energy conservation, and traditional adaptation to climate.
Cultural scientist Eva Horn suggests that the reluctance towards air conditioners in the German-speaking region is due to cultural habits and the unfamiliarity of entering a seemingly ice-cold room. Many Germans associate air conditioning with health risks such as drafts, dry air, cold risk, and noise.
The increasing number of heat pumps, which can also be used for cooling, may also make an extra purchase unnecessary for some Germans. However, air conditioners consume a large amount of energy and contribute to climate change, which is a significant concern for many.
Uwe Franzke notes that heat protection measures, such as sun protection or thermal mass, reach their limits during prolonged heatwaves in many buildings. Despite its standard use in Southern Europe, Asia, and the USA, air conditioning is still viewed negatively in Germany, partly due to its perceived unsustainability and sanitation issues.
In contrast to places where air conditioning symbolizes modernity and wealth, in Germany, it may be viewed as an avoidable energy-intensive convenience. The specific mindset in Germany, where heat is often endured rather than fought, leads to diminished concentration and reduced performance.
Many offices, shops, hotels, and restaurants in Germany are not air-conditioned or poorly so. Even moderate warmth can provoke specific cultural reactions in Germany, reflecting accustomed expectations about climate and comfort without AC. The survey by the market research institute Innofact on behalf of the consumer portal Verivox also found that high electricity costs may be deterring many Germans from purchasing additional climate control devices.
One reason for this reluctance, according to Franzke, is historical: cooling was once considered a luxury, while heating was more important. The German railway often experiences malfunctions with air conditioners in ICE trains, which further reinforces this cultural preference.
Germany's largest public transport company, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), only uses ventilation systems and does not install air conditioners in its U-Bahns due to them being "not economically viable and environmentally harmful." Almost no one in Germany today dispenses with a good car air conditioner.
In summary, the cultural and environmental ethos around sustainability combined with Germany’s temperate climate and traditional architectural and social practices largely explain Germans’ limited use of air conditioning, rather than any single historical rejection of the technology. Social attitudes towards weather also differ, with even moderate warmth provoking specific cultural reactions in Germany.
Other areas of investment in public administration and similar institutions have seen steady growth, with education-and-self-development, general-news, and technology sectors experiencing significant increases. However, similar trends are not observed in the adoption of air conditioning, contrary to wider global developments.
In addition to concerns over energy conservation and traditional climate adaptation, negative associations with air conditioners in Germany include health risks, unsustainability, and sanitation issues. Such factors contribute to a broader cultural mindset that views air conditioning as an avoidable energy-intensive convenience.
