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Comment by sneak | Hacker News Reader

> The summer in Germany isn't that hot. Middle europe, not california. Accordingly, we don't have air conditioners (in general)

Germans are always saying this. It was 90F in Berlin yesterday. That is air conditioner weather, period.

The part about most people not having them is true, though. This US expat is hooking his up this week, despite power costing twice here what it does in California.

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Climate differs wildly throughout Germany. Berlin tends to get hot days, but those are of a moderate number. The upper Rhine valley where I come from has a warmer climate, but less extreme summer heat (lots of forest area around). The coastal area is generally cooler during the summer.

So yes, we do get hot days, but it's still rare that people have air conditioning in their flats. Modern office buildings have air conditioning though and most shops as well. Still, when the temperature difference is lower you still need less energy to power them. Another point is that it's a rare occurrence to have no sun (hence no solar power) and massive heat.

Do you have a normal German house, with shutters and thick stone walls? Normally they're good for at least a week when it gets hot - only open up at night and during the day close the shutters and don't open the windows. And heat waves that last longer than a week are very rare. All of Europe lives like this, even in the southern countries. There are some places where this doesn't work though, like the flat directly underneath the roof..

Fahrenheit? What is this, the nineteenth century?

(90F = 32 degrees Celsius)

> That is air conditioner weather, period.

Whine whine whine

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