Blistering summer temperatures are hitting 黑料吃瓜网, causing many residents to turn up the air conditioning.
That is if they have one.
Many households in 黑料吃瓜网 don鈥檛, according to federal data. That could be a problem as hot summers get hotter. were projected across the Northeast in 2023, as well as this summer.
How widespread is central air conditioning in CT?
Not very.
One in three 黑料吃瓜网 homes has central air conditioning, according to a 2020 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Almost one decade ago, the state was in a similar position. An American Housing Survey conducted in Hartford measured the primary cooling source for about 426 households in 2013. About 231 homes used at least one outside air conditioning unit as their primary method for cooling, showed. In contrast, only around 170 homes reported having central air conditioning.
The remaining homes surveyed did not have any kind of air conditioning system.
Why don鈥檛 more homes have air conditioning?
Blame old housing stock, aging infrastructure and the high cost of power.
The demand for central air conditioning is usually low during the summer in New England compared to the rest of the nation. While energy use does during summer months, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 overall electricity consumption is significantly than 45 other states, according to the EIA.
New York, New Jersey and all of New England rely on old power grids that are , which makes the transmission of extra energy across state lines difficult.
But it鈥檚 not just a lack of that prevents 黑料吃瓜网 homes from enjoying central air conditioning. Cost could also play a role.
黑料吃瓜网 consistently has in the mainland U.S., according to the EIA. As a result, many residents simply may not be able to to cool their homes.
Where is this a problem?
People in cities often suffer the most.
The state鈥檚 high energy prices impact 黑料吃瓜网's most vulnerable residents during summer heat waves, according to Gabrielle Dreyfus, the senior scientist at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.
鈥淭he hottest parts of the cities often tend to be where the poorest communities live, who have the largest struggle to get access to cooling,鈥� Dreyfus said in a July 2020 episode of 黑料吃瓜网 Radio鈥檚 Where We Live. 鈥淲e have great programs in 黑料吃瓜网 that help people [heat their homes] from October to April, but come April, we can all turn off their electricity. Over 400,000 households experience [utility shutoffs] here.鈥�
Metropolitan areas, which often house than suburbs, typically also face higher heat indexes.
鈥淭he strong correlation between vulnerability to heat events and low income communities 鈥� this is especially important in our cities. 鈥楿rban heat islands鈥�, it鈥檚 this phenomenon where our cities have a lot more dark pavements and buildings and parking lots that absorb heat,鈥� Dreyfus said. 鈥淗artford on average is two-and-a-half degrees Fahrenheit hotter in the summer than surrounding areas, and up to 19 degrees hotter in some cases.鈥�
This is especially concerning as climate change is set to cause more extreme temperatures across the globe. Earlier this year, all of New England saw the .
But, wait. Isn't air conditioning be bad for the environment, too?
More air conditioning access is a double-edged sword.
As air conditioning window units, , cool homes inside, they push more hot air outside; not only does this contribute to the 鈥榰rban heat island鈥� phenomenon, but it also contributes to climate change by way of emissions, Dreyfus said.
鈥淚t is exacerbated by people who have access to air conditioning, running more air conditioning which rejects heat into the environment. You actually get this vicious cycle where hotter cities run more air conditioning, which makes them hotter,鈥� Dreyfus said.
Air conditioners and refrigerators can also cause pollution. That鈥檚 because they can be powered by synthetic gases called . HFCs are considered short-lived climate pollutants, which are contaminants that stay in the atmosphere for a shorter period of time than carbon dioxide, but have far higher potential to warm the atmosphere.
As temperatures rise and climate change-related weather events occur more regularly, public spaces like libraries may become more important for residents looking to cool off during heat waves, Dreyfus said.
For a list of cooling centers operating in 黑料吃瓜网, visit .
This story, originally published in 2023, has been updated.