Record heatwave drives air conditioner sales surge across Europe

France placed 54 departments under red alert as temperatures hit 39-41°C, while Italy issued red alerts for 16 cities including Milan and Rome.npr
Air conditioner sales at Carrefour surged to 30,000 units in a single day, and Amazon sales nearly doubled versus 2025, according to company figures.scmp
A study published this week found the heatwave is “significantly exacerbated by human-induced climate change,” estimating temperatures would be 2-4°C cooler without it.koreaherald

EU Pushes New Energy Efficiency Rules as Record Heatwave Drives Air Conditioner Sales Surge Across Europe

The European Commission is preparing modernised EU Energy Labels for heating and cooling appliances designed to make it easier for consumers and installers to identify efficient models, according to the Commission’s own policy guidance. The move comes as Europe’s record-breaking heatwave has triggered an unprecedented surge in air conditioning demand, raising urgent questions about the continent’s energy consumption and climate commitments.instagram

Sales Skyrocket Amid Deadly Heat

France recorded its hottest day since records began in 1947 on Tuesday, with the national temperature gauge hitting 29.8°C. Hypermarket operator Carrefour sold 30,000 air conditioning and fan units by 6:30 PM on Monday alone — “a thousand times more than on a normal day,” CEO Alexandre Bompard said. Sales on Amazon nearly doubled compared with the same period in 2025, while electronics retailer Fnac Darty reported double-digit growth.yahoo

The EU’s updated Energy-related Products (ErP) regulations are set to take effect on July 24, 2026, introducing higher efficiency thresholds for HVAC equipment, along with requirements for 10 years of spare parts availability and 20 years of digital record-keeping. The Commission has said the modernised labels “will help make the advantages of heat pumps more visible to consumers” and assist installers in comparing different types of appliances.instagram

Political Battle Lines Drawn in France

Air conditioning has become a political flashpoint in France, where home penetration stood at just 25% as of 2020. Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Rally lawmaker and presidential contender, declared, “It is absurd that people are dying because of the heat,” pledging to push a plan for large-scale air conditioning installation in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools if elected. The National Rally has criticized the government’s environmental policies as placing excessive burdens on ordinary people.sedaily

On the left, Green Party leader Marine Tondelier accused the far right of exploiting the climate issue politically, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon warned that “installing air conditioning everywhere will only worsen the damage”. A recent French poll found 84% of respondents named air conditioning as the most effective means of coping with heat, even as 78% acknowledged it is not environmentally friendly.sedaily

Broader Crisis Deepens

More than 90% of the French population now faces extreme heat conditions, with 54 departments under red alert and temperatures expected between 39°C and 41°C. Italy issued red heat alerts for 16 cities including Milan and Rome, while Poland warned temperatures could break its 1921 record of 40.2°C. A scientific study published this week found the heatwave is “significantly worsened by human-induced climate change,” estimating temperatures would be 2 to 4°C lower without it.npr