(Bloomberg) — A stroll down German streets usually reveals plenty of postwar architecture, stucco walls and increasingly, air conditioners sitting on balconies or hanging out of windows.
Most homes in Germany – and in northwest Europe — don’t have AC and haven’t really needed it until heat waves became more frequent in recent years. Now that summer temperatures are scorching, many are finding the most manageable way to cool down is with a portable unit.
‘Air conditioning isn’t the solution to our problems, but it’s the only solution we have given the circumstances of sub-optimally designed cities and little shade,” said Marc Evans, a 39-year old IT professional in Frankfurt who bought a portable unit last summer for €899 ($1055.)
Adapting to the new climate reality in Europe can be complicated and expensive. Around half of the European Union’s housing stock…
