Air conditioning: the rules in European countries

The situation is very different in the Czech Republic, where, until a few years ago, air conditioning was not very common outside shopping centres, offices and public transport.

Two factors have rapidly transformed the market: rising summer temperatures and the rise of remote working following the pandemic. Staying at home during the summer has, in fact, prompted many families to invest in home cooling systems.

The figures tell the story of this transformation: in 2023, only 16% of homes had air conditioning; by 2025, this figure had risen to 38%. Today, air-conditioning systems are installed almost as a matter of course in new-build properties.

The regulatory framework is also considerably simpler than in Austria. No specific permits are required, except in the case of particularly extensive building alterations; however, it is still necessary to comply with noise limits and to obtain the landlord’s consent in the case of rented accommodation. The market is dominated by major international manufacturers such as Daikin, Samsung and Gree, but there are also specialist Czech companies operating in the sector.

Italia occupies a middle ground within the European context. Unlike the northern countries, where air conditioning is still relatively uncommon, domestic cooling is now widespread in the Italian regions well established. According to the most recent Istat report, in 2022 around one in two households owned at least one air-conditioning unit, a figure that has risen rapidly in recent years, in line with the rise in summer temperatures.

But having an air-conditioner does not mean you can use it without restriction. Italia is, in fact, one of the few European countries that directly regulates the temperature of air-conditioning systems in public buildings. The turning point came in 2022, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, around 40 per cent of Italia’s imported gas came from Russia. The need to rapidly reduce energy consumption prompted the government to launch the so-called ‘Operation Thermostat’, one of the flagship measures of the energy-saving plan.

Since then, air conditioning in public buildings cannot be set below 25–27 degrees, whilst in winter the heating cannot exceed 19–21 degrees. Those who breach the rules face fines of between 500 and 3,000 euros. The stated aim was to save around 4 billion cubic metres of gas, helping to reduce energy dependence on Moscow. The measures were initially scheduled to run from May 2022 to April 2023, but the regulatory framework governing air conditioning in public buildings has remained largely in force. In private homes, however, the government has limited itself to recommending a more responsible use of heating systems, without introducing any obligations.

Whilst energy efficiency is the main constraint in public offices, in Italy’s historic towns the main obstacle is the landscape. The most emblematic example is Portofino, where efforts to preserve the village’s character have gone so far as to turn the installation of air-conditioning units into a genuine matter of public order. This small Ligurian town has been situated within the Portofino Regional Nature Park since 1935 and, for years, installing outdoor units on its characteristic pastel-coloured façades was simply prohibited. As heatwaves have become more frequent, the rules have been partially relaxed, but only on condition that the units are authorised and positioned out of sight, without altering the urban landscape.

The result was almost surreal. Between January and May 2024, the municipal police identified 22 illegally installed systems, with a further 15 added in June alone, as temperatures rose. The Italian press reported on a veritable ‘war between neighbours’: residents reporting their neighbours after secretly photographing the external motors whilst having dinner, or owners painting the units the same colour as the façades to make them less visible.

For the most serious offences, fines can be as high as 43,000 euros, although the mayor has repeatedly emphasised that the aim is not to punish residents, but to preserve the village’s scenic value. Portofino has thus become the symbol of a dilemma facing an increasing number of Italian towns: how to reconcile the right to protect oneself from the heat with the preservation of a historical and architectural heritage that is unique in the world.

In this respect, Italia is a good example of the European paradox. On the one hand, climate change is making cooling increasingly necessary; on the other, the need to reduce energy consumption and preserve cultural heritage imposes constraints that make it far from straightforward to adapt buildings designed for a climate that is now a thing of the past.

In Lithuania, too, the main obstacles are bureaucratic. Installing an external motor on a block of flats is equivalent to altering the building’s façade. This requires not only planning permission but also the consent of the majority of the owners. Getting the neighbours’ approval is often the most difficult part of the whole process.

In the historic centres of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, the rules are even stricter: outdoor units cannot be placed on the main façades and must be installed on rooftops or in inner courtyards, which involves much higher costs.

Furthermore, the market is suffering from a severe shortage of certified technicians. Every summer, with the arrival of the first heatwaves, waiting lists for installation can stretch to one or two months. Many people therefore continue to rely on portable air conditioners, which are less efficient but do not require a licence. At the same time, heat pumps are growing rapidly in popularity, driven by public schemes for the energy transition.

The growing popularity of air conditioning is having unexpected consequences in France too: the rise in demand during heatwaves has led to the emergence of numerous fraudulent websites advertising fake air-conditioners or non-existent offers generated by artificial intelligence, taking advantage of the rush to buy amongst consumers.

The differences between the various countries all point to the same transformation. In Central European countries, the problem is primarily regulatory: buildings designed for a cooler climate and laws that make it difficult to alter façades. In Mediterranean countries, on the other hand, the challenge lies in reconciling the growing demand for cooling with the protection of a historical heritage that is unique in the world. In the Baltic states, bureaucracy and a shortage of skilled labour are the main obstacles. In all cases, however, the same paradox emerges: whilst climate change is making cooling increasingly necessary, European cities remain designed for a climate that no longer exists.

*This article is part of the European collaborative journalism project “Pulse”