Zainab Hussain, a resident of London, once considered air conditioning a luxury in Britain. Today, at age 35, she finds it hard to imagine surviving without it. She and her husband are among a growing number of British households turning to air conditioning to cope with increasingly intense summer heat.
Critics, especially sustainability experts, warn against viewing AC as the default solution. Rajat Gupta, a professor of sustainable architecture and climate change at Oxford Brookes University, explained, “It’s often seen as a quick fix, but it can cause significant harm.” He pointed out that air conditioning ramps up electricity consumption, boosts energy bills, and increases carbon emissions. Moreover, it worsens the urban heat island effect by releasing hot air into city streets.
Despite this, after enduring a second fierce heatwave last month that kept them up at night, the Hussain family decided to install an air conditioner upstairs in their semi-detached home in Selsdon, South London. “Our summers have been getting more and more unbearable, so we knew we had to have one for the downstairs area,” Hussain said. She added, “But after last week’s heatwave, we realized that even upstairs was starting to feel unbearable,” as workers installed their new unit.
Only about 5% of homes in Britain currently have air conditioning, while nearly half overheat during summer, according to a 2025 report by the Center for British Progress, a non-partisan think tank. The report emphasizes the urgency of increasing AC adoption due to the rising risks of heat-related deaths—numbers in the low thousands annually—and the decline in worker productivity caused by excessive heat.
The trend of hotter summers is evident as records keep tumbling. Last month marked the warmest June in England since records began in 1884, and all five of Britain’s hottest summers have occurred in the 21st century, with the previous year topping the list as the hottest. Climate scientists attribute this to human-induced climate change, which makes such extreme weather events more frequent and severe.
Joe Springett, an air conditioning installer with nearly two decades of experience, has noticed a shift in his business. “I’m getting busier with residential installations every year,” he said while fitting Hussain’s new unit. “As soon as the heat hits, the phones start ringing—everyone wants cooling now.” After the recent heatwave, Springett’s schedule was packed for weeks, and stock shortages became common.
For those who lack outdoor space or cannot afford premium units—costing several thousand dollars including installation—more affordable, portable options are becoming popular. Retailers report a surge in demand, with some portable AC units already sold out. B&Q, a leading home improvement retailer, noted that searches for portable units have doubled compared to the previous year.
Rajat Gupta advocates for a more sustainable approach. He encourages building retrofits that incorporate shading, improved ventilation, and other eco-friendly measures, rather than relying solely on air conditioning. He believes AC should be reserved for vulnerable populations, such as those in care homes and hospitals. “In homes, widespread use isn’t yet common, and it’s better to keep it that way,” Gupta stated. “Use it only when necessary, and only where it’s needed.”
In the UK, operating costs for AC vary widely depending on the system’s efficiency and usage patterns. Some estimates suggest that high-power units can add hundreds of pounds to monthly electricity bills. John Calautit, a sustainability lecturer at University College London, is skeptical about widespread AC use. He notes that most British buildings are designed to retain heat and aren’t built to handle extreme warmth. “We should focus on simple solutions like shading, reflective materials, and natural ventilation,” he advised. “If those don’t suffice, then we consider mechanical cooling options.”
Springett believes Britain must adapt to climate realities. For the Hussain family, with south-facing windows exposed to direct sunlight all day, installing an air conditioner felt like their only choice. “We’re home so much more now, especially with remote work. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about being able to function properly in our own house,” Hussain explained.
