Luxury or necessity? Five questions about air conditioning in Switzerland and around the world 

Air conditioning helps us cope with increasingly intense and frequent heatwaves. However, the boom in home air conditioners in Switzerland and around the world has an impact on the climate and electricity consumption. In winter, when it’s cold, it’s normal to turn on the radiators or put wood in the fireplace. No one disputes the need to adjust the temperature in homes, although heating systems are a major source of CO2 emissions. However, when the heat becomes oppressive, ensuring comfort indoors is more of a debate. With the increase in heatwaves due to climate change, more people are turning to air conditioning. The demand for air conditioners is growing exponentially in warmer climates in Asia and the Middle East, and also in more temperate regions in Switzerland and Europe. Air conditioning has been found to improve the quality of sleep during hot summer nights. It helps maintain concentration in schools and productivity in offices during heatwaves. It can even save lives: in ...