Posted on 07/23/2015 7:23:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I know, I know … Europeans also believe in the fantasy that they can live in a socialist utopia of sorts and the bill will never come due too. Er, except in Greece, of course.
This “new” outrage, though, is simply the usual Euro “superiority” fantasy. They always have a better/smarter/eco friendlier idea and we New Worlders, well, we’re wasteful, uncouth and unsophisticated barbarians, or something:
Overall, it’s safe to say that Europe thinks America’s love of air-conditioning is actually quite daft. Europeans have wondered about this particular U.S. addiction for a while now: Back in 1992, Cambridge University Prof. Gwyn Prins called America’s love of air-conditioning the country’s “most pervasive and least-noticed epidemic,” according to the Economist. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s getting worse: American demand for air-conditioning has only increased over the past decades.
The U.S. has been the world’s leader in air-conditioning ever since, and it’s not a leadership Americans should necessarily be proud of. According to Stan Cox, a researcher who has spent years studying indoor climate controlling, the United States consumes more energy for air conditioning than any other country. In many parts of the world, a lack in economic development might be to blame for a widespread absence of air-conditioning at the moment. However, that doesn’t explain why even most Europeans ridicule Americans for their love of cooling and lack of heat tolerance.
Well good for them. Because as we recall back in 2003, their “superiority” worked out so well for them, didn’t it?
At least 35,000 people died as a result of the record heatwave that scorched Europe in August 2003, says an environmental think tank.
[…]
The EPI calculated the huge death toll from the eight western European countries with data available. “Since reports are not yet available for all European countries, the total heat death toll for the continent is likely to be substantially larger,” it says in a statement.
France suffered the worst losses, with 14,802 people dying from causes attributable to the blistering heat. This is “more than 19 times the death toll from the SARS epidemic worldwide”, notes the EPI.
Yes, that’s right, air conditioning can save lives. Lots of lives, apparently.
I’ll bet those 35,000+ might have found air conditioning being available to be lifesaving? We certainly lose a few to heat each year, but I’ll be honest, if I’d lost 35,000+ to heat in a single summer, I wouldn’t be smug enough to bring up America’s affection for air conditioning in a negative way.
But then, we’re talking about Europe, aren’t we? The land of very short memories, it seems.
Yes, we’re addicted to air conditioning. Just like the untold thousands of Europeans who travel to Florida every summer.
They don’t complain about it then.
You mean it hasn’t been that warm since 2003? What happened to Global Warming?
I think countries that still have Kings and Queens are stupid
They should try living in the desert without it.
I was there (in Germany) and remember that. I heard that most of the people who died in France from the heat were infirm in the hospitals. very sad. Perhaps that’s why the French like the muzzies so much...because they hate A/C.
I would invite them to spend a summer in Houston.
Euros also have an ice cube phobia, FWIW.
They haven’t even figured out how to have ice yet. Why would I care what they think.
To put it bluntly, screw them.
There is no reason Americans should care what Europeans think we should do. I truly am sick of the Euro superiority complex. It’s not justified in any way, shape or form.
About a headline that says “Americans think European socialists are morons”?
Euro Weenies’ addiction to socialism is stupid.
They also think ice in a drink is stupid.
So, they want to sweat, complain about the heat, die of the heat, and drink warm soda or water.
One might think those Europeans are stupid.
RE: I think countries that still have Kings and Queens are stupid
How to explain France then?
They also think our addiction to showing and deodorant is stupid.
More jerks generalising and speaking out of their collective Posteriors again.
The Europeans will be clamoring for air conditioning units when they begin to sweltering under Global Warming and they have to wear burkhas to the beaches.
We’re also addicted to taking a shower more than once a week and our women shave their pits too. 2 additional points that make us better than the Euro trash.
The think tank then went on to say how this was a positive result that saved not only further harm to gaia, but millions of dollars in savings to the state in medical benefits not paid.
Productivity increase in the southern states.
‘nuff said
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