Air conditioning has become an essential feature in American homes, providing relief from the sweltering summer heat and contributing to comfort and productivity. However, the widespread use of air conditioning units comes at a high cost, as they are one of the largest energy consumers in residential settings.
In recent years, rising energy costs have strained household budgets nationwide, exacerbating concerns about the affordability and sustainability of maintaining comfortable indoor climates.
To understand the impact of rising energy costs on air conditioning usage, we surveyed 3,000 Americans to find out how many are planning to cut back on their air conditioning usage to combat these increasing expenses.
Nearly Half of Americans Plan to Reduce Air Conditioning Usage
The survey revealed that almost half (47%) of Americans surveyed plan to reduce their air conditioning usage this summer to combat rising energy costs. When breaking down the data across the country, Nebraskans are the most likely to cut back, with 75% indicating they will reduce their usage. Conversely, only 25% of Alaskans plan to reduce their air conditioning usage, which is unsurprising given Alaska’s generally cooler summer temperatures.
The full breakdown across all states is shown in the table below:
State | Percentage Cutting Back |
---|---|
Alabama | 33% |
Alaska | 25% |
Arizona | 38% |
Arkansas | 60% |
California | 58% |
Colorado | 56% |
Connecticut | 45% |
Delaware | 45% |
Florida | 44% |
Georgia | 46% |
Hawaii | 50% |
Idaho | 38% |
Illinois | 57% |
Indiana | 44% |
Iowa | 44% |
Kansas | 57% |
Kentucky | 50% |
Louisiana | 33% |
Maine | 50% |
Maryland | 50% |
Massachusetts | 44% |
Michigan | 58% |
Minnesota | 56% |
Mississippi | 48% |
Missouri | 39% |
Montana | 47% |
Nebraska | 75% |
Nevada | 52% |
New Hampshire | 67% |
New Jersey | 51% |
New Mexico | 33% |
New York | 45% |
North Carolina | 47% |
North Dakota | 67% |
Ohio | 43% |
Oklahoma | 54% |
Oregon | 33% |
Pennsylvania | 46% |
Rhode Island | 46% |
South Carolina | 39% |
South Dakota | 33% |
Tennessee | 44% |
Texas | 48% |
Utah | 50% |
Vermont | 60% |
Virginia | 56% |
Washington | 47% |
West Virginia | 31% |
Wisconsin | 47% |
Wyoming | 47% |
When asked how they would stay cool if they reduced air conditioning usage this summer, 57% of respondents indicated they would rely on fans. This was the most popular method, highlighting fans as a common and accessible solution for many.
Additionally, 12% of respondents mentioned that they would spend more time in public places with air conditioning, such as malls and libraries. An equal 12% chose to drink cold beverages to cool down, demonstrating simple but effective personal strategies.
Other respondents cited less common ways to beat the heat. Of those surveyed, 7% mentioned cold showers, while another 7% said they would use blackout curtains or shades to block the sun. Another 5% of respondents noted they would spend more time at the homes of friends or family with air conditioning editioning. These responses reflect a range of tactics that individuals use to stay cool while managing costs.
Our survey also explored the impact of heat on health — 32% of respondents surveyed experienced health issue, such as heat exhaustion, due to excessive heat at home, underscoring the significant health risks of high temperatures.
Given the increasing frequency of heat waves, our survey revealed a strong belief in the importance of air conditioning. A substantial 80% of respondents believe having access to air conditioning is a basic human right, reflecting a growing awareness and concern about the health implications of extreme heat.
When asked to rate their ability to stay cool without air conditioning on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being very difficult and 10 being easy, respondents gave an average rating of 3.8. This low average rating indicates that many find it challenging to cope with high temperatures without air conditioning, pointing to a general struggle to maintain a comfortable body temperature in high heat.
Interestingly, our survey found that 46% of respondents have, at some point, invited themselves to friends’ or family members’ homes to use their air conditioning when they did not have it at home or wanted to save on costs. This indicates a social aspect of trying to keep body temperatures at a safe level, as people turn to their social networks for relief.
Finally, our survey examined vacation preferences amid the potential for excessively high temperatures. It found that 68% of respondents are tempted to vacation in cooler areas, such as those on higher elevations (e.g. Aspen (CO), this summer instead of the usual beach locations.
This preference shift suggests a significant impact of anticipated high temperatures on vacation planning.
In Conclusion
Despite the increasing heat waves and health risks associated with higher temperatures, many Americans are turning to alternative ways to keep cool, such as using fans and seeking out public places.
“Clearly, consumers across the country are facing hard choices. They can stay comfortable at home in hot weather and suffer the financial hit of a huge energy bill, or turn the thermostat up to sweat it out and save money,” said BadCredit.org Consumer Finance Expert Erica Sandberg. “Closing the gap between the temperature outside and what it is inside can reduce the amount you have to pay. I’m a big believer in using as many strategies as you can to remain as cool as possible.”
This underscores the pressing need to find affordable cooling methods. Additionally, the belief that access to air conditioning is a basic human right highlights the importance of ensuring everyone can stay safe and comfortable during the hot summer months.
Methodology
An online panel survey of 3,000 adults was conducted based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting. July 2024.