All posts tagged: Air Conditioning

Air conditioning cuts heat-related deaths by more than half, but its protection has limits

Air conditioning cuts heat-related deaths by more than half, but its protection has limits

Published by Jenni Sidey

Air conditioning prevented an estimated 5,267 heat-related deaths each year across the contiguous United States, cutting heat-attributable mortality by 57%. The strongest gains occurred as AC use rose from low to moderate levels. Beyond median usage, additional cooling produced little extra reduction in mortality. Affordability remains a major obstacle. More than a quarter of U.S. households report difficulty paying for energy, limiting their ability to use AC when temperatures become dangerous. Air conditioning can make the difference between surviving dangerous heat and becoming another heat-related death, but simply turning the thermostat lower does not keep adding protection. A nationwide analysis from Yale University estimates that household air conditioning prevented 5,267 heat-related deaths each year across the contiguous United States. That amounts to a 57% reduction in heat-attributable mortality, offering one of the clearest measurements yet of how much residential cooling protects people as temperatures rise. The study, published in Nature Health, examined nearly 30 million death records from 3,108 counties between 2010 and 2020. Unlike previous research that largely measured whether households owned air conditioners, …

How AI is changing home comfort

How AI is changing home comfort

Published by Sam Flores

Cooling needs can change throughout the day, depending on how many people are in the room and what they are doing. A family gathering may call for faster cooling, while gentler airflow may feel more comfortable during a quiet evening on the sofa. LG’s DualCool AI air-conditioner uses AI to monitor movement and occupancy, then adjusts cooling strength, fan speed and airflow direction. Radar sensors detect where occupants are in the room, allowing the system to cool the space without blowing air directly at them. When more people enter the room or quicker cooling is needed, the Dual Vane function distributes cool air across a wider area. The system can also respond to common household habits, like opening a window to air the kitchen after cooking. Window Open Detection senses the temperature change and switches to an energy-saving mode. For households that use air-conditioning for long stretches, the AI kW Manager on the 9K and 12K single-split models lets users set a target power consumption limit through the LG ThinQ app. The app monitors electricity …

Britain is sweltering, so why does Ed Miliband want to keep air con on ice?

Britain is sweltering, so why does Ed Miliband want to keep air con on ice?

Published by Sam Flores

Britain is melting in heat like a blanket that wraps itself thickly around us day and night. For those without air conditioning – which, in summer 2026, is still most of the population – it’s become a relief to step into a mechanically cooled office or supermarket. But why, in an age of rising temperatures and ferocious heatwaves, do so many of us still lack air con at home? Why are schools closing due to inadequate cooling, and hospitals often struggling on without it? Estimates for the proportion of UK homes with air con vary from three per cent to 19 per cent – the higher figure coming from 2022 research by the University of East London (UEL). Either way, it’s still not the norm, despite the scorching trajectory we’re on. By comparison, some 25 per cent of French homes have air conditioning, while more than 40 per cent in Spain are fitted with the technology. In the United States, nine in 10 homes have a unit. Most schools are understood to lack air con, …

Met Office reveals why 34C heatwaves feel hotter in the UK than abroad | Weather | News

Met Office reveals why 34C heatwaves feel hotter in the UK than abroad | Weather | News

Published by Sam Flores

Brits saw the hottest day of the year so far, as temperatures hit almost 35C in London on Monday (May 25) during the first heatwave of 2026. While many people in the UK struggle in 30C heat, the same temperatures often feel far more bearable in holiday destinations. Experts say there are a number of reasons why UK heatwaves feel hotter than the same temperatures abroad, including humidity levels, lack of air conditioning and how buildings are designed. “It is perhaps how heatwaves in the UK are perceived that makes them less manageable,” Annie Shuttleworth, a Met Office meteorologist, told Stylist. “When we experience heat abroad, we’re usually on holiday, and may be close to a pool or the beach. In general, buildings and infrastructure are also more set up for heat abroad – for example, there is more air conditioning.” According to some experts, one of the biggest factors is humidity. A Met Office spokesperson previously told MyLondon: “The level of humidity can be higher in the UK than in continental Europe. If humidity …

Air-con will be ‘essential’ for one major reason | UK | News

Air-con will be ‘essential’ for one major reason | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Air conditioning will become “unavoidable” for millions of Britons within a generation as summer temperatures spiral beyond what the country’s homes, hospitals and schools were built to withstand, a top government climate adviser has warned. Baroness Brown, of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), made the stark prediction as the body launched a major new report on how Britain must adapt to more intense flooding, heat and drought. She said cooling measures must now be “rolled out at scale”, a significant shift in position from advisers who previously cautioned against widespread air conditioning use on environmental grounds. How hot will Britain get? Friday is forecast to bring 28C to parts of Britain, but the CCC’s projections paint a far more alarming picture for the decades ahead, with Celsius readings of 40C expected to be a routine feature of British summers within 35 years. Of all the climate threats facing the country, the report singled out intensifying heatwaves as the most dangerous to human health, a threat it said was already killing people and leaving expectant mothers …