Southern Europeans splash out on air-con as heatwave drags on
24/07/2023 12:32
By Corina Pons and Elisa Anzolin
MADRID/MILAN, July 24 (Reuters) - As Southern Europe
battles extreme heat with no end in sight, people have rushed
out to buy fans and even invest in air-conditioning to keep
cool.
In-built air-conditioning in homes is much less widespread
in Europe than in the United States, making people reliant on
more traditional ways of coping in the heat, like closing
shutters and resting in the middle of the day.
But data shows Italians and Spaniards are increasingly
opting for more effective cooling solutions as summers get
hotter.
Italian consumer electronics retailer Unieuro UNIR.MI ,
which has more than 500 shops across the country, said sales of
air-conditioning products doubled in the week to July 21
compared to the same week last year.
El Corte Inglés, one of Spain's largest department store
chains, said that by mid-July it had already sold 15% more units
than it did last year by the end of August.
"I bought a portable air conditioner last week because my
family was desperate," Angela Lonardo said as she browsed in a
Leroy Merlin store in downtown Madrid on Friday. Having spent
320 euros ($355) on a unit for her living room, she was looking
for a second air conditioner to put in the bedroom.
"We do not want to spend another hot summer suffering in the
nights."
A heat wave has hit southern Europe during the peak summer
tourist season, breaking records - including in Rome - and
bringing warnings about an increased risk of deaths. Spain is
expected to endure higher-than-average temperatures this summer,
with two heatwaves already baking the country in June and July.
The surge in electricity prices last year may have deterred
people from investing in fixed air conditioning units, but
renewed heatwaves this summer are driving consumers to consider
installing them, according to OCU, a consumer organisation in
Spain.
The average number of hours air-conditioning was used jumped
by 26.5% in Seville in the month to July 15 compared to the same
period last year, according to data from Sensibo, which sells
devices to help people reduce their energy usage from air-con.
Many were opting for ventilation that's easier to install: a
ceiling fan priced at 139.95 euros was among the top ten
bestselling items in the homeware category on the Amazon Spain
website, while in Italy a 319-euro mobile air-conditioning unit
was 17th top seller in the category.
Businesses, too, are investing in air-conditioning. Amazon
Business, where companies can order supplies, saw more than a
20% increase in portable air-conditioning unit sales across
Spain, Italy, and France this month compared to July last year.
Smaller devices, like hand-held fans and fans worn around
the neck, were also selling in their thousands.
Four-legged friends were not forgotten: El Corte Inglés said
cooling mats for dogs and cats were among the best-selling items
in stores this month.
($1 = 0.8991 euros)
(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin in Milan, Corina Rodriguez in
Madrid, Helen Reid in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
((Helen.Reid@thomsonreuters.com; +44 7584 155 200 ;))