Heatwaves, Shutters and the Cooling Debate in Europe

 

Few houses in Europe are equipped with air conditioning, so the burden of climate control often falls to design—something Europeans have, historically, excelled at

 
By Marisha Singh, July 23, 2025 Germany Energy & Waste Management
 

Heatwaves, Shutters and the Cooling Debate in Europe
As Europe grapples with intensifying heatwaves, the conversation around how best to keep homes cool is heating up. Traditionally, air conditioning wasn’t a feature of most European homes. In fact, in countries like Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland, it was rarely considered necessary—thick stone walls, well-planned ventilation, and centuries-old architectural techniques were thought sufficient. But with the impacts of climate change becoming more pronounced, the situation has shifted: periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent...

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