https://britishprogress.org/reports/air-conditioning-saving-lives-and-accelerating-net-zero
2025 report from Centre for British Progress:
Excerpt:
Summary
- Britain is getting hotter, but is poorly prepared for the heat. Only 5% of British households have air conditioning, compared to 37% of people worldwide. Half of all UK homes overheat during the summer months.
- Heat-related death rates in the UK in 2022 were over 10 times those in Sweden, and twice that of the (climatically-similar) Netherlands. London’s rate of heat related deaths exceeded any other northern European capital city, and were similar to those in Rome.
- High temperatures are not only uncomfortable; they cost lives. In 2022, circa 3000 people in Britain died from heatwaves. Studies show air conditioning can cut heat related deaths by 75%. Heat related illness disproportionately affects the elderly and those with disabilities.
- High temperatures make workers less productive and students perform worse in exams during heatwaves.
- Despite these costs, government heat pump upgrade schemes exclude air-to-air devices whilst building regulations decree that air conditioning is only used when other measures are insufficient. This effectively bans air conditioning in new build homes. Similar restrictions are baked into London’s planning policies.
- Our analysis shows that UK electricity demand peaks in the winter months, and will continue to do so as heating is electrified. Adding air conditioning demand makes use of this spare grid capacity in summer.
- Air conditioning can help balance the grid and support the green transition, since its demand profile is well aligned with solar generation. Adoption is likely to increase solar energy demand and help speed up clean power. It may also help speed up clean heating adoption by giving homeowners a reason to upgrade.
- The impact of the modern British summer – on our health, welfare and productivity – is not inevitable, but the result of policy choices. This Government has the opportunity to make Britain a greener, healthier, and cooler place to work and thrive.
