A 41.7C record temperature was measured in eastern Brandenburg on Sunday, with German fixed air-conditioning penetration at 6% versus 90% in the United States. The far-right AfD’s construction spokesperson labelled mainstream building-efficiency policy a sacrifice of lives, while the WHO Europe head, Hans Kluge, endorsed AC for hospitals, care homes, schools and public transport but cautioned against blanket home adoption. Europe’s rollout has been slowest in the private-home sector, where Italy and Spain are the principal adopters.