The world is warming, and the divide between those who can afford to stay cool and those who cannot is widening. This isn't just a problem for the wealthy; it's a matter of life and death for vulnerable groups who are at greater risk during heatwaves. The UK is no exception. While air conditioning remains relatively uncommon in British homes, a new study reveals a growing cooling divide, where access to cooling technology is determined by income, location, and housing type. This divide is not only unfair but also potentially dangerous.
The research, conducted by colleagues and myself, analyzed data from the English Housing Survey and conducted in-depth interviews with air conditioning users. We found that air conditioning is not spreading evenly across society. Instead, it is concentrated in certain regions and among certain income groups. London and the east of England have the highest levels of residential air conditioning, while northern regions remain much less likely to use cooling.
This regional disparity is not surprising, given that London experiences warmer summers and a stronger urban heat island effect. However, it also highlights the uneven distribution of the ability to adapt to a warming climate. Economic inequalities are equally visible, with households in the highest income group more than twice as likely to own air conditioning than those on the lowest incomes. Installing and running air conditioning is expensive, making it far more accessible to wealthier households.
The most concerning finding is that several groups most vulnerable to heat currently have relatively low access to air conditioning. Older people, lone-parent households, and many lower-income families are among those least likely to use it, despite facing greater health risks during periods of extreme heat. Social and private renters also lag behind owner-occupiers, reflecting barriers such as upfront costs, landlord permissions, and practical constraints on installation.
However, there is a silver lining. Some vulnerable groups are adopting air conditioning at higher rates than the wider population. Households with babies, young children, disabled people, and those living with long-term health conditions are all more likely to use air conditioning. This suggests that many households are taking proactive steps to protect their health.
But this introduces another challenge. Since air conditioning uses lots of electricity, vulnerable families may find themselves facing a difficult choice between staying cool and keeping their energy bills affordable. In the UK, fuel poverty has traditionally focused on heating homes during winter, but our research suggests a new form of summer fuel poverty may already be emerging.
The rise in air conditioning in homes will also increase electricity demand in summer, placing additional pressure on energy networks. Unless that electricity comes from zero-carbon sources, it will also increase emissions, creating a feedback loop in which hotter summers drive greater demand for cooling. Therefore, the solution cannot simply be more air conditioning for everyone.
Instead, the UK needs a national cooling plan that focuses on keeping homes cool naturally through solutions like external shading and shutters, as well as encouraging more trees in cities to provide shade and other cooling effects. Where air conditioning is essential for vulnerable households, they should receive targeted support.
The question is whether we act now to ensure that protection from dangerous heat is available to everyone, especially those most vulnerable to heat, or wait until a cool home becomes a privilege.
