We’re in the middle of summer right now and for most of Europe and the US, it is hot! Today, we’re diving into a topic that seems to create a bit of a cultural divide: air conditioning. As someone running a language school here in Switzerland, I’ve noticed that many of my students aren’t fans of air conditioning (AC). In fact, I am probably the only person in any of my classes that actually has an air conditioner at home! But have you ever wondered why Americans are so crazy about air conditioners? Let’s break it down.
(Read to the very end – there’s a bonus chart of important vocabulary for talking about the heat!)
Cooling by the Numbers
First, let’s talk stats. Did you know that nearly 88% of American households have air conditioning? That’s right, nearly 9 out of 10 homes in the USA are equipped with this heavenly home appliance, which can often do double duty, heating the home in the winter. This is up from 77% only twenty years ago (and all the other houses have at least ceiling fans, which the Swiss also haven’t adopted yet). Thank goodness, because people just couldn’t survive without AC in places like Las Vegas, which recorded its hottest temperature ever this month at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, almost 39 degrees Celsius! This is why in the hotter parts of the US, almost 100% of households use AC. To put this in perspective, only about 20% of European homes have air conditioning, and I am sure that in Switzerland the percentage of AC users is much smaller, at least north of the Alps.
A Cool History Lesson
Now, let’s take a quick trip back in time. ACs date back to 1902 when Willis Carrier invented the first modern air conditioner. Originally, his invention wasn’t intended to cool people but to control humidity in a printing plant in order to improve quality control and reduce waste. The idea quickly caught on though, and by the 1920s, air conditioning systems were being installed in other types of factories and then movie theaters, where previously it was just too hot to go in the summer months. This led to the rise of the summer blockbuster, as people flocked to cinemas not just for popcorn and entertainment but to beat the heat.
By the 1950s, air conditioners became more affordable and started appearing in homes across America. It allowed for more comfortable living conditions and it was a game-changer in desert climates like Arizona and New Mexico, as it influenced where people could live and the homes’ architectural designs, which no longer needed to rely on high ceilings and thick walls to keep cool.
Fact Check: Do Air Conditioners Make You Sick?
So, what about the health effects of air conditioning? There’s a lot of debate on this, especially from my Swiss students who often blame air conditioning for their colds and sore throats when they are on vacation. Let’s clear the air.
Air conditioning itself doesn’t make you sick. If it did, Americans would be sick all the time! This said, poorly maintained systems can circulate dust, mold, and other allergens, so, yeah, if the machines aren’t cleaned regularly then of course the air won’t be clean. Luckily, most movie theaters, malls, restaurants, etc. do a great job of maintaining their air conditioning systems because of health regulations and regular inspections.
It’s also worth noting that modern air conditioners come with advanced filtration systems that can improve indoor air quality by removing pollutants, pollen, and even bacteria from the air. So modern machines, when used properly and maintained regularly, can actually lead to a healthier indoor environment. This means that people who complain about health issues when they arrive in the cool, air-conditioned US probably caught a virus on the plane ride over.
So next time you find yourself in the States, enjoy the cool indoor breeze and maybe, just maybe, you’ll start to appreciate why Americans love their air conditioners so much!
How to Talk about the Heat
We LOVE to talk about the weather – it’s the number one topic for small talk in English! So what you need is the ability to complain about the heat like a native speaker. Here are some top expressions to join in the conversation without just saying that it’s hot:
English 
Deutsch (Schweiz)