Citizens living in the Italian commune of Portofino have been reportedly warring over the presence of “illegal” air conditioning units.
As temperatures in the region hit as high as 40°C, residents are said to be reporting one another to the local authorities over the presence of the units.
According to a report by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on August 12, permits for air conditioners are required for Portofino town, with the argument being that restrictions on their presence are needed to keep the location looking picturesque.
Instances of neighbourly spying have become increasingly common and some reports, the newspaper said, have been motivated by neighbours who are sticklers for the local rules.
Others, it said, were revenge attacks, with citizens reporting people they believe have previously notified officials of their own use of illicit cooling systems.
Local authorities are obliged by law to investigate such reports and prosecute where applicable. Police have increased their crackdown against the presence of unapproved A/C units, with Corriere della Sera describing officers as using both human and drone patrols to uncover violations.
Those found to have broken the rules face fines of up to €50,000.
Reports of the crackdown came as many parts of Europe face soaring temperatures.
Despite concerns that climate change will continue to bring ever-warmer summers, the number of air conditioning units — especially in private dwellings — remains relatively small.
According to 2022 data from the International Energy Agency, European AC penetration sits at just 19 per cent, compared to 90 per cent in the US.
The same year saw around 62,000 Europeans die from excess summer heat, while in the US, just 1,702 were thought to have died for the same reason.
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