health
Air conditioning: the wealthy and well can afford it, but disabled people who need it most can't
It is a short-term fix, but AC is an essential tool for many for whom the heat can be harmful, and even life-threatening
TL;DR
- The author's personal experience with post-viral fatigue has made heatwaves increasingly difficult, shifting the perception of heat from pleasurable to debilitating.
- Air conditioning (AC) ownership in the UK has doubled in three years, with four million households now having some form of AC.
- Millions of homes with AC do not belong to people who critically need it, such as disabled or chronically ill individuals, who disproportionately face financial barriers.
- Renting disabled individuals may not have the right to install AC, further limiting their access to essential cooling.
- The cost of AC has risen significantly, making it less accessible as demand increases.
- Vulnerable populations in care homes, schools, prisons, and hospitals are at the mercy of decisions made by private companies and government ministers regarding their access to cooling.
- In 2022, over 4,500 people in Britain died from causes associated with heat.
- Climate activists suggest AC should be urgently installed in schools and care homes as an emergency measure, and public 'cool spaces' should be established, similar to those in New York.
- AC is not a sustainable long-term solution due to its environmental impact; Britain needs to build climate-resilient homes, especially social housing.
- Addressing the root cause of heatwaves through emission reduction and renewable energy is fundamental.
- The rise of extreme weather events is being exploited by rightwing populists to fuel public anger against green policies.
- The author expresses guilt and luck at being able to afford AC for their bedroom, recognizing the privilege it affords.