Heatwave and Air Conditioning Access in the U.S.

A severe heatwave is spreading across much of the eastern United States over the Fourth of July weekend. The heat is intense, with a vast heat dome causing temperatures far above normal. The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings in various states, indicating dangerous conditions throughout the holiday period.

Regional Disparities in Air Conditioning Access

Census Bureau estimates reveal significant regional differences in air-conditioning access. As expected, Alaska holds the highest percentage of homes without air conditioning, at 93 percent. Nearly half of Hawaii’s households also lack air conditioning as per the estimates.

States in the Northwest and Northeast, including Vermont and Washington, have a notable number of households without air conditioning. In Vermont, over 25 percent of homes lack air conditioning, while over a third of homes in Washington are without it.

Conversely, access to air conditioning is most common in the Southeast. States like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana have less than one percent of homes without air conditioning.

The Census Bureau explains that their estimates result from a new methodology using cross-survey modeling. This approach leverages data from the American Housing Survey to train a machine learning model applied to data from the American Community Survey.

Air Conditioning Use Across the U.S.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that nearly 90 percent of U.S. households used air conditioning as of 2020. Two-thirds of these households used central air systems as their primary equipment.

Households in the Midwest and South have the highest prevalence of air conditioning use, at 92 and 93 percent, respectively. The West, particularly the Pacific Coast’s marine climate areas, shows lower air conditioning usage at 73 percent, with air-conditioning use along the Pacific Coast at 49 percent.

While central air systems are widely used, the Northeast sees half of its households relying on individual air-conditioning units, such as windows, wall units, mini-splits, and portable units.

Heatwave Impact on the Eastern U.S.

Currently, a heat dome is affecting a large portion of the eastern United States, coinciding with one of the year’s major holidays. This results in record-high temperatures.

As of Saturday morning, the National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings across states like New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and others. AccuWeather forecasters noted that millions are subjected to these conditions, with temperatures soaring 10 to 20 degrees above normal.

AccuWeather’s Dan Pydynowski highlighted the potential dangers, especially for people spending prolonged periods outside. He advised staying hydrated, seeking shade or air conditioning, and being aware of heat-related illness signs. Additionally, it is crucial to have a secure location to take refuge from any possible storms.