Rules restricting the installation of air conditioning in Geneva have led to a rise in the purchase of inefficient mobile air conditioning units.
Installing air conditioning in Switzerland is often subject to rules set at the cantonal level. Geneva is the strictest canton. To qualify, a home owner must prove they have a legitimate need, for example, by producing a medical certificate, and install systems that capture some of the heat emissions and condensation produced.
Other cantons require air conditioners to be powered by solar panels. This increases the upfront cost for anyone without solar panels, putting them out of reach of many home owners.
Given the restrictions and administrative hurdles to install an inbuilt air conditioning solution, people are buying mobile units instead. Emrush Dermaku, a manager at an Interdiscount electronics store in the canton told RTS that sales of portable air conditioners were up 50% on last year.
The problem with mobile air conditioners is their high ecological footprint. Because the whole device is placed inside, it heats and cools the room at the same time. One way to let the heat out is to place the back of the unit near an open window. However, this can let out much of the cold air coming out the other side, requiring the device to be run on higher power for longer.
Florent Tempion, an air conditioning installer told RTS he receives up to 100 calls a day from people wanting to install air conditioning private homes. When people are told they can’t they don’t understand he said.
More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Christian Rogner says
AC units with their against an open window? How asinine is that?
It’s called an exhaust hose that is put into the window and all the heat gets expelled.
And if it’s super hot in the evening you only cool the bedroom which is more efficient than the whole house.
Not sure I follow the purpose of the article other than the Canton of Geneve has learned the meaning of VERBOTEN from the German speaking population and is applying it at home LOL
Silly!!
Lily says
A neighbour across street in Paquis is hanging washing on balcony 24/7. Even hanging huge bedcovers that block balcony below.
Terrible eyesore in a neighbourhood trying to regentrify after years of drug dealers and pimps.
In a building replete with flowers and vines and plants we have the ugly washing from an illegal laundry business (no family has that many clothes)
charles moore says
IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, YOU VENT THE UNIT/HOT AIR THRU THE WALL VIA FLEX DUCT, OR THRU THE WINDOW