Will UK homes need air conditioning?

The summer of 2022 has seen record-breaking heat in the UK, with the Met Office putting out red warnings for extreme heat. Indeed, for the first time on record, temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees. This made it difficult for the country to function and with temperatures remaining high during the night, many people found it incredibly difficult to sleep in the heat. One solution was using fans to cool your house down, but could air conditioning become necessary? Below, we explore this question and the pros and cons of air conditioning.

Table of Contents

Is it necessary?

Global warming is set to make punishing heatwaves such as this more common. And houses in the UK aren’t prepared. Older homes, especially, are designed to retain heat rather than cool the occupants down. So how will you cope if heatwaves do indeed become a regular occurrence? Well, you could purchase a new property with more efficient heating and cooling. In this situation, you’ll need to hire a conveyancing solicitor to ensure that everything is in order. Alternatively, you could turn towards air conditioning as a reliable way of cooling yourself in summer. Given the projected temperature increases, though, some action in your home is likely to be necessary. 

Pros

Naturally, the main pro of air conditioning is that it rapidly cools the room you’re in. The appliance will blast cool air across the room towards you, helping you to sleep or work despite the heat. What’s more, high-tech devices will allow you to fine-tune the temperature in your room, meaning that you won’t end up getting too cold either. Some devices are portable, allowing you to move them from room to room. Or you might have a larger appliance set up in your bedroom. Either way, an air conditioning unit is extremely effective at cooling your home.

Cons

There are cons though. For a start, air conditioning units use up a lot of electricity. On top of their expensive retail price, your energy bills will soar when you’re using your air conditioning frequently. This energy consumption also makes air conditioning damaging to the environment as well. By using up more electricity, your personal carbon emissions will be rising. If you care about your carbon footprint, this might not be the solution for you. Instead, you might need to look for more natural solutions to cool your home and garden down. 

With heatwaves becoming more frequent, many people are looking for ways to cool their homes in the future. One option is air conditioning. And by following the guide above, you’ll be able to make an informed decision as to whether this is right for your home.