>it's also illegal to install split systems in the US when it's not done by a professional
Where did you see me arguing this? Split ACs must everywhere be installed by professionals, I never said they don't. You missed the point completely. Building regulations in some EU countries forbid installation of split AC units period, even by professionals because you're not allowed to do modifications to the outer walls and facade, even if you're a owner, let alone a tenant.
>until the last decade it made no sense to have AC when outside temperature rarely went above 27°C or so in the summer
It makes no sense to not let people adapt their residences to the new environmental conditions.
The only legitimate examples I can think of are restrictions on installing public-facing split ACs. Usually these restrictions are highly localized and only apply to historic buildings in larger cities.
> Building regulations in some EU countries forbid installation of split AC units period
is not true for Germany and Austria at least. And none of the things that make it difficult are related to "greenwashing propaganda that their sacrifice of personal comfort is "for the environment"". (indeed I'd rather argue that the anti-green pushback is hurting the rollout of AC)
I think they're talking about how it's usually forbidden to install an exterior unit that blows towards the windows of a neighbour or a visible unit on the façade of a historical building.
Maybe all of this is allowed in the US, but it's not a factor for the low penetration of AC in Europe anyway.
You need the owners permission. In the specific case of a building where different people own different apartments, that's the owners assembly for the outside. That's not the same as it being forbidden by regulations, and not particularly specific to European countries. Fairly sure if you own a condo in the US they'll also have their own rules about what you are allowed to do to parts of the building outside your unit and a voting process for exceptions and changing it.
And obviously ownership law like that has nothing to do with "greenwashing propaganda".
Some areas can have local restrictions facade design, but that's neither universal nor something that can't be mitigated.
That's not true at all. Individual or terraced houses are not "common property" and owners are free to install what they want.
Apartments buildings with multiple owners are governed by a "syndic" that is comparable to American HOAs (as far as I understand HOAs) and they can put restrictions on AC installations if a majority of owners agree. Usually the most annoying part is that you need to wait a couple of weeks for permission to drill through the exterior wall (which is common property obviously).
Where did you see me arguing this? Split ACs must everywhere be installed by professionals, I never said they don't. You missed the point completely. Building regulations in some EU countries forbid installation of split AC units period, even by professionals because you're not allowed to do modifications to the outer walls and facade, even if you're a owner, let alone a tenant.
>until the last decade it made no sense to have AC when outside temperature rarely went above 27°C or so in the summer
It makes no sense to not let people adapt their residences to the new environmental conditions.