Number of air conditioned UK homes doubles to more than 4m in three years

More than 4 million UK households now have air conditioning, double the number from three years earlier. Portable units around 1kW are slightly more common than built-in systems that can use up to 2.7kW. Ownership has increased due to more people working from home and rising summer temperatures, including record heat such as 40C in July 2022. Households typically run units about four hours per week, but during high temperatures use them for just over nine hours per day, raising weekly costs from 2.93 to 42.43. Portable units cost about 83p per week under typical use, rising to 15.71 during hot spells. Over 260,000 households have heat pumps that can cool homes, using about 1kWh per hour in cooling mode. Climate advisers warn that air conditioning will be needed as warming increases, and recommend installation in care homes and hospitals within 10 years and in schools within 25 years.

"More than 4m homes in the UK now have air conditioning, double the figure from three years ago. Portable units with power ratings around 1kW are slightly more common than the more powerful built-in versions that can guzzle 2.7kW of power more than an electric oven. Experts suggest the increase in ownership is the result of more people working from home and rising summer temperatures."

"In a typical week, households use their units for about four hours, but when temperatures are high, they use them for just over nine hours a day, sending the cost soaring from 2.93 a week to 42.43 a week. The 2.2 m homes with portable air conditioning units which use 1kW of power typically use them for about three hours a week at a cost of 83p. During hot spells, when they are used for more than nine hours a day, this bill rises to 15.71 a week."

"More than 260,000 UK households now have heat pumps that can be used to cool homes. Heat pumps work like traditional air conditioning units by extracting heat from the home and releasing it outside. A typical air source heat pump used in cooling mode will use about 1kWh an hour, costing a similar amount to a portable air conditioning unit although the heat pump is likely to be more efficient at cooling large rooms."

"British homes will need air conditioning to survive predicted levels of global heating, the government's climate advisers warned in a report, as measures such as drawing curtains, opening windows and growing trees for shade are not likely to be enough. Air conditioning should be installed in all care homes and hospitals within the next 10 years, and in all schools within 25 years, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC)."

Read at www.theguardian.com