The A/C situation in Switzerland

[racletteforall]

Hi everyone,

This is my first summer in Switzerland, and I've been quite surprised by how unprepared the country is for heat. I understand that summers used to be milder a couple of decades ago, but after speaking with colleagues and friends, it's clear that temperatures have been rising consistently over the past few years which leaves no excuse to this lack of preparation...

What strikes me most is the absence of air conditioning, especially in offices. Having to work in high temperatures is unnecessary and significantly impacts focus and productivity. It's shocking that one of the world's wealthiest countries hasn't addressed this basic comfort issue.

While investigating why A/C is so uncommon here, I discovered that strict regulations actually limit its installation, to the point that some people end up installing it illegally. The main reason for these restrictions appears to be environmental concerns about energy consumption and climate impact.

I understand the importance of reducing pollution, but the situation feels absurd. People are suffering from heat related illnesses, yet the solution is restricted in the name of fighting climate change. Meanwhile, countries like India or China emit (contamination wise) in weeks what Switzerland produces in months.

Maybe I'm missing something and that is why I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Thank you.

 

[gaijin]

I fully agree with your assessment. Some thoughts about it, trying to explain the situation so far.
Until last year, increasing temperatures were less tangible, not enough to motivate a real political change.
It has worked fine for the past 100 years.
Other countries (France, Italy, Spain, German) had news of people dying due to the heat. In Switzerland these numbers might have existed, but were not high enough to reach wide spread news media.
There is a certain fatalism about life and death in Switzerland. There are many people who die because of avalanches or hiking accidents in the mountains. We say that it's part of life, we don't want to overregulate how people should die.

However, I think this year was a wakeup call that will have lasting impacts on policies. I predict that we will see a loosening of regulations about air conditions and other aspects of life. However, even the situation this year was not enough to rapidly change regulations that have existed for 30-50 years. But I think it will happen eventually. It's this stability of Switzerland that is both a curse and a blessing.

 

[racletteforall]

However, even the situation this year was not enough to rapidly change regulations that have existed for 30-50 years. But I think it will happen eventually. It's this stability of Switzerland that is both a curse and a blessing.

My guess is 5 years to change regulations related to A/C

 

[Baptiste Wicht]

I completely agree. Switzerland is poorly prepared for heat. Everything is built around cold but cold is not really a problem anymore.

It's shocking that one of the world's wealthiest countries hasn't addressed this basic comfort issue.

Totally shocking indeed. And I understand people from other countries laughing at us for this issue.

This is only going to get worse if regulations don't change.

I discovered that strict regulations actually limit its installation, to the point that some people end up installing it illegally.

Yes, I have heard many small companies are installing it illegally.

The main reason for these restrictions appears to be environmental concerns about energy consumption and climate impact.

It actually does not make sense. These regulations only prevent true split A/C. And true split A/C is the most efficient form of A/C. So, what do people do instead? They turn to portable A/C, the worst form of A/C.

So, we have regulations that try to protect the environment but actually hurt it. If this regulation wants to achieve its goal, it needs to forbid all A/C, not only fixed ones. But that is not the solution, because some homes are not livable without A/C.

I understand the importance of reducing pollution, but the situation feels absurd.

Totally. And as you said, it will take many years to get it changed.

For me, the solution is to allow A/C under the condition that most, if not all, of the energy consumed is coming from renewable energy. It does not solve the entire problem since the gas in these units is still a problem, but it would be a step in the proper direction.

 

[Rebecca]

I had a meeting recently at a higher end office building in Zürich and it didn't have AC. The building was probably worth at least 30 million CHF but still didn't have AC. It was so hot in the meeting room I felt nauseous and couldn't concentrate. I cannot understand why Swiss managers do not feel more embarrassed to invite international colleagues to the saunas they call their offices. I guess they just don't realize that people in other countries do not tolerate this?

I recently heard that the school for disabled children in my municipality does not have air conditioning. WTF?

In addition to the devastating and deadly toll that heat waves are taking on sick and elderly people in uncooled hospitals and nursing homes, I think the tourism sector is at risk in Switzerland and other European countries. International guests that are paying over 250 CHF per night expect air conditioning in their hotel rooms. And hotels that do not have proper AC will be publicly critiqued like the Hotel Wellenberg in Zürich:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g188113-d228180-r960546929-Hotel_Wellenberg-Zurich.html

Here is another negative review of a Zurich hotel regarding non working air conditioning:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g188113-d290571-r1015760832-Hotel_Hottingen-Zurich.html

Even a cheap motel in the US always has AC.

 

[Baptiste Wicht]

I don't understand why Swiss managers do not feel more embarrassed to invite international colleagues to the saunas they call their offices. I guess they just don't realize that people in other countries do not tolerate this?

I think they do, but they do not have that much choice. Getting A/C is a pain in most cantons. If they could, they would likely invest in A/C.

 

[gaijin]

uncooled hospitals

My guess is that hospitals are exempt from the AC-ban.

I think the tourism sector is at risk in Switzerland and other European countries.

Yes, a cooled room is certains a convenience in summer. Still, I think there are so many aspects that determine tourists' choices, the availability of lack of AC is probably not the determining choice for a tourist destination. On the other side, I would prefer some Asian countries to use AC more moderately inside. But this will not prevent me from travelling to these countries.

 

[Baptiste Wicht]

My guess is that hospitals are exempt from the AC-ban.

I think so as well.

But A/C costs money and power, and neither is something that hospitals necessarily have a lot availalble
A/C is much easier to set up when building than as an afterthought.

But hospitals is a great example of where we should push A/C. I don't particularly care about the tourist sector in Switzerland, but I do think we should prioritize the sick and elderly in these cases.

 

[gaijin]

A/C is much easier to set up when building than as an afterthought.

Yes, this is clearly a regulation that needs to change and that will have the most lasting impact. At the same time it also needs to be less bureaucratic to use AC in existing buildings.

 

[jess93]

perhaps also because the nights are less tropical in switzerland. I read today a paper saying that a majority of residents, is not looking for A/C and consider opening the windows during night or early in the day and using awning (store) are enough. I live in a building from 80s last level, sun all teh day and no A/C, I stay with 26 to 28 in the day even with more than 35, night are fresh as we have a lake.

 

[Baptiste Wicht]

Nights are maybe less tropical, but they are not very comfortable either. We live at around 750 m altitude, and I often went to bed at night with outside temperatures at around 26 degrees. Some regions will definitely be better than others, but in many cases (especially in cities), nights have been horrible this year.

I just hope people don't forget about the heatwaves just as soon as they end, as people tend to do.