EU Households Double Energy Use for Air Conditioning in Six Years
Eurostat reports that EU households consumed 80.4 terajoules for air conditioning in 2024, double the 2018 figure. Italy, Spain, and Greece lead in absolute consumption, while Cyprus and Malta have the highest share of household electricity used for cooling.
Household electricity consumption for cooling in the European Union has steadily increased in recent years, reaching 80.4 terajoules in 2024, according to Eurostat. This is double the 40.5 terajoules recorded in 2018, indicating a significant upward trend over six years.
Annual growth has been consistent, with minor declines in 2020 (-2.5%) and 2023 (-1.9%) compared to the previous year. These fluctuations may reflect weather or economic factors, but the overall trajectory remains sharply upward.
In absolute terms, Italy consumes the most energy for air conditioning at 26.3 terajoules, followed by Spain (14.3 terajoules) and Greece (11.9 terajoules). However, when measured as a share of total household electricity use, Cyprus and Malta top the list with 16% and 15% respectively. Greece dedicates 7.4% of its household electricity to cooling, Spain 2.5%, and Italy 2.3%.
