BCG
Summary
Right now, record-breaking temperatures across Europe are driving seasonal spikes in demand for air conditioning.
Until recently, Europe’s market for air conditioning (AC) remained muted. While 90% of US homes have AC units, the figure is just 20% in European homes according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
But that’s changing. Once the preserve of the hottest parts of Italy and Spain, AC units are now being installed at pace in more northern regions.
“Alternative technologies including district cooling systems offer potential solutions to these challenges,” says Bernhard Siegert, an expert in greentech at BCG. In district cooling, chilled water is channeled to buildings through underground pipes as part of a central AC network. “This energy-efficient system was used in Paris during the Olympic Games,” Siegert explains. “It meets the demand for air conditioning while cutting carbon emissions and preserving heritage architecture.”
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