Heat wave exposes more than rising temperatures

One of the lessons I learned after moving to Brussels one year ago was that Europeans and Chinese often mean very different things when they say summer.

Back in China, summer usually means air conditioners humming almost everywhere, like in apartments, offices, shopping malls and even university dormitories. Here in Europe, however, summer often means opening the windows and praying for a breeze.

Most years, that strategy works. But that wasn't the case lately, as Western Europe experienced a record-breaking heat wave.

France recorded one of the hottest days in its history, with the national average temperature reaching around 30 degrees Celsius and many cities exceeding 40 C. Southern England saw its hottest June day in decades, while Spain continued to endure temperatures above 40 C.

Fountains, usually places where tourists stop briefly to take photographs, suddenly became public cooling centers. Children splashed in the water while adults sat along the edges, trying to catch every bit of mist drifting through the air. The cooling effect was limited, but it was free, and during a heat wave, that alone was enough to attract crowds.

Shopping malls and supermarkets also became unofficial shelters. Many supermarkets maintain lower temperatures to preserve meat, dairy products and frozen food. During the hottest afternoons, benches inside shopping centers were occupied not only by shoppers but also by people who simply wanted to escape the heat for a while.

Even the metro became a refuge. In several cities, I noticed people riding the subway outside rush hour with no apparent destination.

People accustomed to air conditioning may ask: Why don't Europeans just turn it on?

The answer is obvious to many in Europe: too few have air conditioning units.

Cost is the first obstacle.

Buying an air conditioner in Europe is far more expensive than many people in China would imagine. The unit itself is costly, but installation, labor and various service fees often nearly double the final bill. A household can easily spend more than 2,000 euros ($2,280) for a single installation, while a similar unit in China often costs only a fraction of that amount.

In a broader sense, industrial products in Europe are generally more expensive. Bicycles, household appliances and many everyday consumer goods all cost significantly more than comparable products in China. The reason is clear: much of Europe's manufacturing capacity has gradually shifted elsewhere over recent decades, while services and finance have become increasingly important parts of the economy. Consumers ultimately bear those higher costs.

But money is only part of the story, as many people living in Europe know that obtaining the legal certificates for installing an air conditioner is sometimes harder than buying one.

Many Europeans live in apartment buildings where the exterior walls belong to the entire building rather than individual residents, and hanging an outdoor compressor often requires approval from the building association. If the building is located in a historic district or protected area, additional permission from local authorities may also be necessary.

Noise regulations add another layer of complexity. Installation positions are carefully regulated so that outdoor units do not disturb neighbors.

To be fair, these rules are not entirely unreasonable. European cities contain countless buildings that are far older than modern electrical systems, while many historical neighborhoods are protected because they represent centuries of architectural heritage. Residents also tend to value quiet living environments. It is a social consensus that protecting old buildings and respecting neighbors are perfectly legitimate goals.

Yet living here also makes one wonder whether efficiency sometimes becomes the victim of procedure.

If my downstairs neighbor happened to come from an area that regularly experiences 50 C summers, would he enthusiastically support my air conditioner application? Or would he simply prefer the building to remain exactly as it has always been?

Another explanation often offered is environmental protection, stressing that Europe cherishes the environment more than itself.

Yes, Europe certainly takes environmental policies seriously. The attached bottle cap required under European Union rules has become one of the most visible examples. Instead of separating completely from the bottle, the cap remains connected after opening, reducing the likelihood that the small plastic caps become litter.

But living here also reveals some interesting contrasts. For example, paper still dominates everyday life in ways that surprise many newcomers from China.

My physical mailbox fills up every few days with supermarket advertisements, promotional catalogs and paper discount coupons.

Standing beside an overflowing mailbox after hearing constant discussions about sustainability inevitably raises an interesting question: How much paper does all this consume?

That contrast perhaps illustrates Europe better than any single environmental regulation.

This is a society that genuinely values order, consultation and long-term planning. Many regulations originate from reasonable intentions: protecting heritage, reducing waste, preserving neighborhoods and ensuring fairness. Yet those same strengths can sometimes become weaknesses when quick adaptation is required, which, as I see it, is a shortcoming of European society.

A prolonged heat wave demands flexibility rather than procedure. People need practical solutions today, not approvals several months later.

Europe's historical cities remain among the world's most beautiful places to live. Their architecture, public squares and urban character reflect centuries of careful preservation. China, meanwhile, has embraced rapid modernization on an extraordinary scale, making technologies such as air conditioning widely accessible within just a few decades.

Both paths involve trade-offs. But climate change is steadily making some trade-offs less negotiable.

Heat waves that were once considered exceptional are becoming increasingly common across Europe. Buildings designed for cooler weather now face temperatures their architects never imagined. Customs shaped by mild summers are being tested by a changing climate.

Perhaps Europe's relationship with air conditioning will eventually change as well.

The author is chief correspondent at China Daily EU Bureau based in Brussels.

Contact the writer at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn