The number of air-conditioned homes in the UK has doubled to more than four million in just three years, following government warnings about rising temperatures. Demand for cooling systems, which cost around £2,500 per room, is surging from owners of both period properties and new builds.
Rising Demand for Cooling Systems
Aria Toupchi, who runs London-based air conditioning specialists Debonair Cooling, reports that customers are struggling with sleep deprivation and children's breathing problems. “I’ve seen loft rooms go up to 50C. It’s unliveable,” he said, noting that loft conversions are particularly problematic.
Ciaran Murphy, chief executive at Dimplex Consumer Products, which sells cooling gadgets including a £440 portable air conditioner and dehumidifier unit, said: “We’re seeing a clear shift in how people in the UK think about indoor comfort. Air conditioning was once viewed as a luxury for a few hot days a year, but cooling solutions are increasingly being considered essential in the home.” The company has seen “unprecedented growth in sales across the cooling category and expects this trend to continue long into the future.”
Energy-Efficient Alternatives
Uswitch energy expert Natalie Mathie highlighted the potential of heat pumps: “Heat pumps move heat around rather than generating it and can produce about three units of cooling output for every unit of electricity they use. Pairing a heat pump with solar panels means that the cooling effect can be produced with near-zero emissions.”
This surge comes after warnings that British homes will need air conditioning to survive predicted levels of global heating, as traditional measures like drawing curtains, opening windows, and planting trees for shade may not be sufficient.
Extreme Heat as a Deadly Threat
Julia King, chair of the adaptation subcommittee of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), stated: “Extreme heat is certainly the most deadly of the climate impacts on the UK, so we need to see cooling rolled out at scale. Sometimes this will mean shading, but sometimes it will mean air conditioning. And either way, we’ve got to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable people in hospitals, in care homes, and in schools.”
