ermm blimey !!! quite simply we are considering air conditioning units purely because we know someone who fits them!! and he has installed them in his house and finds them an extremly efficent source of instant heat.. I do understand that we probably, unless we have a scorchning summer wouldnt use them to cool our barn, but he seemed to think that it would be an alternative to other methods,, We were curious to know if air conditioning units were an extremly bad idea as they didnt seem very common in france, as some of you said it may be due to the fact electricity is expensive... Please dont laugh but our friends live in spain , yes they need the cool air there, but in winter he uses his to heat his quite large villa, which air conditioning does very effectivly there.