In Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, traditional houses tend to include qualities that allow for breezes to run through them. Narrow passageways in some city centers and tree-lined streets also provide shade for pedestrians. Europe is experiencing heat waves at a rate that is more frequent and more intense than in many other parts of the world, and numerous homes are not equipped with air-conditioning. Annual sales of air-conditioning units around the world have tripled since 1990, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization that provides policy recommendations on the global energy sector. In 2022, 89 percent of U.S. households had air-conditioning, compared with 19 percent in Europe, the I.E.A.

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Persons: Catalina Spataru Organizations: University College London Energy Institute, Bank, International Energy Agency Locations: Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Europe, U.S