In the U.S., extreme heat affects millions, especially in low-income neighborhoods where air conditioning is often unaffordable. Heat-related deaths have surged, doubling over the past 25 years, particularly impacting vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. Programs like the Home Energy Assistance Program aim to bridge the gap in access to air conditioning. In New York City, high rates of heat-related mortality are associated with inadequate cooling, highlighting the urgency of increasing air conditioner access for public health and poverty reduction efforts.
Heat-related deaths have doubled over the last quarter century, making air conditioning essential for protecting public health and reducing poverty as extreme heat risks increase.
About 14 million households in the U.S. lack air conditioning, with the absence being particularly pronounced in Black, Latino, and low-income neighborhoods.
The state's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides essential air conditioners to low-income households, especially those with members who are elderly or young children.
Without air conditioning, heat-related deaths in the U.S. would likely double, especially affecting older adults, underscoring the need for increased access to cooling.
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