Now Reading: UK home searches with air conditioning double during heatwaves
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UK home searches with air conditioning double during heatwaves
Searches for UK homes with air conditioning rose 104% between May 1 and July 31 from the same period last year, according to Rightmove data reported by The Independent. The shift comes…
The Story in Brief
Searches for UK homes with air conditioning rose 104% between May 1 and July 31 from the same period last year, according to Rightmove data reported by The Independent. The shift comes after temperatures in parts of England reached 38C during the country’s fifth heatwave of the summer. Rightmove found that 87% of people consider a home’s ability to stay cool important, while 61% would consider installing air conditioning.
The UK now has an estimated 4 million air-conditioned homes, twice as many as three years ago. A Climate Change Committee report warned that 92% of existing homes could overheat by 2050. Cooling systems can cost about £2,500 per room and add to energy use, with air conditioning accounting for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that air conditioning is becoming a universal must-have may overstate the shift. Location, space and affordability still lead buying decisions, while just 12% of surveyed people had installed it. Yet dismissing hotter homes as a lifestyle issue is equally lazy, especially when loft rooms can reach 50C. Buyers should compare insulation, ventilation, shading and energy bills, not just machines. The useful test is whether the 92% overheating estimate translates into stronger demand for cooler, lower-energy homes.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
