UK air conditioning doubles to over 4 million homes in three years

More than 4 million homes in the United Kingdom now have air conditioning, double the figure from three years ago, according to new data.

Portable units with power ratings around 1 kilowatt are slightly more common than built-in versions rated up to 2.7 kilowatts, which consume more electricity than an electric oven.

Experts attribute the increase to a rise in remote work and hotter summer temperatures, with the UK experiencing some of its warmest years recently and a record 40 degrees Celsius in July 2022.

Among the 4 million households with air conditioning, nearly 1.9 million have built-in units. In a typical week, these are used for about four hours, but during heat waves usage jumps to more than nine hours daily, raising weekly costs from £2.93 to £42.43.

The 2.2 million homes with portable units, which use about 1 kilowatt, typically run them three hours weekly at 83 pence, but during hot spells that rises to £15.71 per week with over nine hours of daily use.

More than 260,000 UK households now have heat pumps that can also cool homes, operating like traditional air conditioning by extracting heat and releasing it outside, with typical costs similar to portable units but greater efficiency for larger rooms.

The government’s climate advisers warned this week that British homes will need air conditioning to cope with projected global heating, as passive measures such as drawing curtains, opening windows, and planting trees for shade will likely prove insufficient.

The Climate Change Committee recommended installing air conditioning in all care homes and hospitals within 10 years and in all schools within 25 years, as part of adaptation to global heating impacts.

Heatwaves are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius across all parts of the UK by 2050, with longer hot periods potentially causing an additional 10,000 heat-related deaths annually, and about nine in 10 UK homes are at risk of overheating.

Air conditioning is energy-intensive, accounting for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, though modern systems using heat pumps are more efficient and government-subsidized for replacing gas boilers, though such installations remain rare.

Sam Alvis, head of energy security at the IPPR thinktank, called for expanding rooftop solar alongside air conditioning, stating: “We are going to have to get used to being a hot country, which is quite a mindset shift for the UK. Air conditioning is actually a great pair for solar from an energy system point of view because it matches supply and demand, and your aircon is only going to be needed above certain temperatures.”