Persistent heat waves across Europe this summer are accelerating a cultural and commercial shift toward air-conditioning, according to Bloomberg reporting. In cities from Paris to Berlin, units that were once dismissed as an American indulgence are now being installed in homes, offices and public buildings as temperatures set new records for a second consecutive year. The demand reflects a broader recalibration as extreme heat becomes a regular feature of Europe’s climate. The International Energy Agency estimates that air-conditioners and electric fans already account for about 10% of global electricity consumption—a share likely to climb as European penetration rises from historically low levels. The expansion is intensifying debate over how to cool buildings without undermining climate goals. France’s environment agency ADEME calculates that air-conditioning emitted almost 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ in the country in 2020, with most of the impact linked to refrigerant gases. Policy makers are pushing efficiency standards and lower-impact refrigerants, while urging building retrofits and shaded urban design to blunt the need for mechanical cooling. For now, however, installers report backlogs and retailers are seeing brisk sales as households prioritise relief from soaring temperatures. The rapid uptake underscores how climate adaptation measures are reshaping consumer behaviour even in regions once famed for temperate summers.