As an expert in the field of energy and sustainability, I have closely studied the impact of air conditioning on American homes. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, the vast majority of American homes have air conditioning, but about 9% don't. This may seem like a small percentage, but it still amounts to millions of households without this modern convenience. However, a deeper analysis of EIA data suggests that Americans are not paying universal attention to that advice. People with individual air conditioners, such as window units and portable systems, tend to vary their temperature settings depending on the time of day and if someone is home.
This can lead to unnecessary energy consumption and contribute to global warming. On the other hand, those with central air conditioners are more likely to set a temperature and leave it there most of the time. While this may seem like a more efficient approach, running the air conditioner constantly and forcefully can also have negative consequences. Not only does it put a strain on the power grid, but it also contributes to global warming by releasing heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This issue is further compounded when air conditioning units reach the end of their useful life. The hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs in the refrigerant can escape, which is why some states began phasing them out even before the Environmental Protection Agency announced that they would do so last year.
In addition, air conditioning units powered by utility companies indirectly increase carbon dioxide emissions because those companies often rely on fossil fuels to generate electricity. The cost of energy has also been a major concern for American households. Government statistics for June show that the average price of residential electricity was 15.42 cents per kilowatt-hour that month, compared to 13.85 cents the previous year, representing an increase of 11%. This is a significant increase and has put a strain on many households, especially those with lower incomes. However, in some regions of the U. S., prices increased by more than 20% during that time, as shown in the following graph.
All states, except Florida and Hawaii, prohibit the cutting of public services to medically vulnerable residents who are late in their payments. Some states also have specific conditions for homes with infants and the elderly. While there are some protections in place to prevent utility outages during extreme weather conditions, these protections are not universal across the country. According to LIHEAP data, 41 states and Washington, D. C.
have general protections against utility outages during extremely cold climates, but only 16 states and Washington, D. have similar protections for extremely hot weather. According to Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, lack of protection isn't the source of the outage problem (affordability is) nor are protections a final solution for struggling customers (because the bill doesn't go away and customers can get their energy). It goes out right after a heat wave and then it's not restored before that the next one will come, he says).However, during extremely hot weather, which can cause and aggravate serious health problems, these protections could save lives. The recently approved Inflation Reduction Act provides financial incentives, such as tax credits, to low-income households to make their homes better insulated and more energy efficient.
It's a step in the right direction to optimize cooling in a constantly warming world. However, Wolfe says those incentives may not reach middle and lower class households, who are unlikely to be able to afford the initial costs. As shown in the following graphic, utility costs have increased for everyone, but those at the lowest income levels feel it more, as they dedicate a much larger part of their income to keeping electricity on. Utility companies usually offer specialized payment plans, but these usually work best when residents have extended periods to pay for a particularly expensive season. However, energy bills are getting higher in both winter and summer, leaving customers with less room to breathe.
