Even in new build homes? IIUC, many people in Europe were taking advantage of the incentives to install heat pumps as a back door mechanism to install A/C. After all a heat pump is essentially just A/C with a reverser switch.

But that only works in homes with forced air heating. Most of Europe doesn't use forced air heating. You can replace a boiler with a heat pump, but if you do you don't magically get A/C too.

In 2026 it seems silly to do new builds in a cold climate with anything but a forced air heat pump.

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vrganj 2 hours ago | parent [-]

It also works in homes with wall heating. My parents now have wall cooling, which is much nicer than any forced air AC.

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weberer 2 hours ago | parent [-]

>wall cooling

That sounds like a big mold risk if its causing condensation in the walls. Wall heating, on the other hand sounds like a great idea.

	▲	ben_w 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		We have underfloor heating/cooling; the only mould we see anywhere now is a small amount on the skylight, and previously some in the bathroom that was due to a leaking roof the builders have since made good. Condensation needs humidity, not just a lower temperature. In summer, this is rare, even though we're in Berlin which is essentially built in the middle of a huge area of low-lying marshy woodlands.
	▲	vrganj 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Their walls are autoclaved aerated concrete, which is pretty good at both insulating (so less cooling needed) and absorbing/diffusing humidity, so I think in their case it's fine. It's a pretty cool material!