As heatwaves strike, Europeans turn to prized Chinese air-conditioner
European consumers are increasingly purchasing portable air-conditioning units from Chinese manufacturer Midea to cope with record-breaking summer heatwaves. The product's popularity is driven by its ease of installation, which bypasses strict European building regulations.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intersection of climate change, consumer demand, and the adaptation of infrastructure in regions historically unaccustomed to extreme heat.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Recent heatwaves have brought Europe to a turning point with air-conditioners
Steven Scholtysek, 36, is no stranger to Europe's heatwaves. The German engineer has lived through sweltering summers since his childhood.
But this year the heat has been especially unbearable. Western Europe has experienced its hottest June on record, and cities across Germany saw temperatures rise above 40C (104F). The region is bracing for more heatwaves before the summer ends.
To make things worse, a few months ago Scholtysek moved into an attic apartment - the kind that's notorious for overheating.
"It's not possible to live a normal life in those flats, below the roof, in summer heat," says Scholtysek, who lives in the town of Hamelin, north-central Germany.
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