Heat Waves and Air Conditioning

 

While being in the Netherlands and learning about their innovations from dikes to sand engines to the stock market, I have become aware that they are leading the pack when it comes to finding new and creative solutions to problems that they face. So while being here during a heatwave, I raised some questions about their approach to a problem. 

The Netherlands does not have central air conditioning in most buildings. Mostly because they haven't needed it as the country maintains a cool temperature even during the summer months. However, climate change may be pushing the Dutch for yet another change. Heat waves are becoming increasingly common across Europe causing problems for all who have to deal with them. In Rotterdam, a multi-day-long heat wave struck the country and I saw how bad this issue is firsthand. Multiple days in a row, the temperature rose to nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is very abnormal weather for this area. This heat was further exacerbated by the lack of rainfall over the weeks prior. 

Coming from the southern United States, I am used to heat of this temperature but without certain measurements in place, I struggled. Living in a small room with other students, large windows, and no air conditioner was nearly impossible. With no air circulation in our room and essentially being in a greenhouse, our hostel room temperature rose to a point where it was unbearable. Even immediately after taking a cold shower we would be profusely sweating. It was very hard to sleep in there every night as I honestly felt like I was suffocating in the stagnant dry heat. 

I spent my days during the heatwave sitting outside, quite literally trying to survive. With no air conditioning in the buildings, I found it odd how being outside was the coolest place I could find during intense heat. After the country issued heat protection protocols, not much changed. The hostel then provided a fan in the lobby and a water pitcher that was filled with ice water. That is all the relief we could get. 

So why haven't air conditioning units become more common in the Netherlands as it is increasingly becoming a need? It is not like this country does not have the infrastructure or the money to be able to install such units. Through some research, I have come to the conclusion that this is one step of climate change that the residents of this country have a hard time accepting. They don't want to deal with the process of installing it, maintaining it, and paying for it when it is not a dire necessity most times of the year. 

But in terms of hotels, hostels, and gathering spaces like museums or restaurants, I think this has become necessary as they are catering to large amounts of people. Some apartment complexes will allow tenants to install air conditioner units in their windows if they do not face the street, which would ruin the aesthetic of the building otherwise. This limits the number of people that can safely exist within their homes when intense heat hits. 

This country has the infrastructure to combat certain aspects of climate change. If they can maintain their complex dike systems, surely they can install central air conditioning to combat intense heat. They have innovated their way through so much already so it leaves me perplexed as to why they are resistant to a relatively simple change. 

Spent my days reading in the shade by the water trying to stay cool 

It was so hot my candy bar melted after being outside for a couple minutes!