Why is there so little air conditioning in Italy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We stayed in two different French hotels this past week. Both claimed to have AC (and I guess technically did) but neither was able to adequately cool the room by American standards. And we aren't the type to keep our home freezing. We like it about 74 in the summer. These hotels could not manage that. And what was annoying that both hotels only had duvets with duvet covers but no top sheets. So you couldn't just sleep with a sheet, it was duvet or nothing.

We are in France now in an old stone farmhouse. It remains remarkably cool, even without it A/C and in 100 degree weather. Amazing.

74C isn’t cold?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We stayed in two different French hotels this past week. Both claimed to have AC (and I guess technically did) but neither was able to adequately cool the room by American standards. And we aren't the type to keep our home freezing. We like it about 74 in the summer. These hotels could not manage that. And what was annoying that both hotels only had duvets with duvet covers but no top sheets. So you couldn't just sleep with a sheet, it was duvet or nothing.

Here's what you do. Take the cover off the duvet. Fold the duvet inner and put it in the closet. Sleep under the empty duvet cover. They made up the bed with just the cover the next night no problem.

[Anonymous]

Thankfully mini-split systems seem to be popping up everywhere. Yes, not as good as central air, but way easier to retro-fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. It's sweltering.

Rome is the same latitude as Portland, Maine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. It's sweltering.

Rome is the same latitude as Portland, Maine.

Latitude is only one factor among many that determine climates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. It's sweltering.

Rome is the same latitude as Portland, Maine.

OK? thanks for adding that very important fact to the conversation. Anything else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Italians believe it is bad for your health - you will get "colpo d'aria" an illness they very much believe in and take very seriously. When I lived there, we used a lot of fans and kept the Roman shades almost always completely shut, just cracked enough to let air through. It's the only way to survive.

Indeed - Italians and their “colpo d’aria”. I’ve never seen anyone take something so seriously as the Italians I worked with. They literally believe air makes you sick and also gives you a stiff neck. There is no reasoning with them on the topic. Also they believe if you go out with wet hair bad things will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Italians believe it is bad for your health - you will get "colpo d'aria" an illness they very much believe in and take very seriously. When I lived there, we used a lot of fans and kept the Roman shades almost always completely shut, just cracked enough to let air through. It's the only way to survive.

Indeed - Italians and their “colpo d’aria”. I’ve never seen anyone take something so seriously as the Italians I worked with. They literally believe air makes you sick and also gives you a stiff neck. There is no reasoning with them on the topic. Also they believe if you go out with wet hair bad things will happen.

Can you please not speak for all Italians/be racist AF? This is BS and my family in Sicily would agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Italians believe it is bad for your health - you will get "colpo d'aria" an illness they very much believe in and take very seriously. When I lived there, we used a lot of fans and kept the Roman shades almost always completely shut, just cracked enough to let air through. It's the only way to survive.

Indeed - Italians and their “colpo d’aria”. I’ve never seen anyone take something so seriously as the Italians I worked with. They literally believe air makes you sick and also gives you a stiff neck. There is no reasoning with them on the topic. Also they believe if you go out with wet hair bad things will happen.

Can you please not speak for all Italians/be racist AF? This is BS and my family in Sicily would agree.

Sicilians aren't really Italians, though.

[Anonymous]

When our Italian relatives come here (to the US) they think they are going to die from the over air conditioning. They hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Italians believe it is bad for your health - you will get "colpo d'aria" an illness they very much believe in and take very seriously. When I lived there, we used a lot of fans and kept the Roman shades almost always completely shut, just cracked enough to let air through. It's the only way to survive.

Indeed - Italians and their “colpo d’aria”. I’ve never seen anyone take something so seriously as the Italians I worked with. They literally believe air makes you sick and also gives you a stiff neck. There is no reasoning with them on the topic. Also they believe if you go out with wet hair bad things will happen.

Can you please not speak for all Italians/be racist AF? This is BS and my family in Sicily would agree.

I thought they were specifically referring to the Italian they worked with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thankfully mini-split systems seem to be popping up everywhere. Yes, not as good as central air, but way easier to retro-fit.

Counter-point- our mini-splits are cheaper than central air and quieter. And we can change temps easily between rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Italy in spring or fall. Summer is for suckers.

I wish I could. Everything thinks teachers have it made because they have summers off but it’s the only time I can travel and it’s $$$$ too. I will be taking a few sick days to overseas next spring break though. Use them or lose them.

[Anonymous]

I hate to tell you, but the worst time of year to go to Europe is summertime. No A/C, crowds, no deals to be had.

Spring and Autumn only

[Anonymous]

Lived in Italy for years. Also grew up in Florida before central air was in many homes.

There is a simple, economical solution to cool rooms in Italy but sadly it will never be used by Italians due to their "bad air" beliefs.

The solution is ceiling fans. They are cheap. They can easily be installed in concrete ceilings using surface electrical line ducts. They use very little electricity. They can be set so low you barely feel the breeze. They do a great job of circulating FRESH air in and helping prevent mildew.

But unless and until Italians get over this belief that circulating or cool air is the cause of illnesses, they will continue to swelter. Not good in a world where the temps are rising every year.

IMO, they are at more risk from mold/mildew induced illnesses than they would be if they aired/dried their homes out and got rid of the humidity.

With all the styles of ceiling fans available, including those with lights, you think more Italians might jump on the aesthetic and become "fashionable" for having ceiling fans.