Will portable air conditioning become more common in UK homes?

[zowsoph]

I'm in Scotland where it hasn't been as hot as down south but I have still been struggling. I'm currently making the case for getting some kind of portable air conditioner for next year as its been horrible this summer just constantly hot and sweaty and not sleeping. My sympathies to anyone down south struggling in even hotter temps.

Do you think there will be an aircon boom in Europe and the UK over the next few years? Our homes up hear and designed to combat the cold and damp but they seem to both absorb and hold the heat inside. I know they say that isn't the case even following all the guidance on keeping the indoors cool it is just unbearable!

I’m in London and nearly everyone I know now has a portable aircon unit - and in fact the discussion this year is ‘is this the heat we install it properly throughout the house / bedrooms’.

I'm thinking of picking one up in the depths of winter for next year.

Yes, we're waiting for a mobile unit to come back in stock (due Spring 2027!), and discussed the logistics of having AC installed properly in a few rooms this morning (we think approx £2k per room, so will need to be planned).

Yeah, obviously. Loads more people bought aircon units this year and last year.

I can imagine, I lived in London in my 20's and it was boiling hot even back then. I am sure many will be ready to take that step soon. I think if I could just even have it in the bedroom and get enough sleep to function it would be a big improvement.

Spring 2027! I imagine some people will put of the decision until seeing what the weather is like next summer. But we’ve struggled in our ND household.

Yes. I ended up in hospital due to complications with one of my meds, however the heat contributed to how quickly I deteriorated, and also led to a false sense of security because everyone just kept telling me it was the heat which was making me unwell rather than other issues.

My office is the hottest room in my house and air conditioning is going to become a must.

Everyone I know who can afford it now has at least one.

Don’t underestimate how noisy and inefficient portable ones are, even expensive ones. I have one, and there is absolutely no way I could sleep through the din it makes.

my experience too

Sadly as a frustrated leaseholder I can’t get proper built in split AC which is far more efficient than the typical single hose portable AC units.
I’ve read many cases where London flats can even get to 40c+ but not much changing. Not just HA, freeholder who can block it, there are some councils blocking people from installing AC too

Yes we are in a conservation area and I suspect the council will look dimly on a visible box of any sort on the exterior of the house - even if it is a practical necessity!

I’m in London and know only a couple of people with portable AC units. I will look out for one when I can because the upper storey in our house is incredibly hot. But your poll asks about installing one, and that’s different to a portable one.

Our homes up hear and designed to combat the cold and damp but they seem to both absorb and hold the heat inside.

People keep saying this all summer but aren't uk houses overal actually the least, ot amongs the least, efficient in europe with biggest heat losses?

It’s so unfair, never mind that people are at huge risk of heatstroke and even death at some of these indoor temperatures but oh no the box is a bit unsightly

London flats were already significantly losing their value, now I worry this will make things far worse if they’re uninhabitable

But the irony of everyone getting A/C installed when we’re already experiencing the affects of man made climate change!!!
ceiling fans can be just as effective with less energy use.
I’ve just got back from spending six weeks with my mother in south Spain.
she has A/C in a couple of areas and collects and resuses the water.
Hers is very seldom set below 24 and has ceiling fans in all other areas.
it’s not enough to rely on running an air con unit at full throttle for four months of the year.
She’s been experiencing extreme temperatures from early June which is unheard of previously.

It’s both. Most properties in the UK, old and new, are not designed to reject the sun’s heat. Badly insulated ones let it in quicker. Modern, well-insulated buildings keep it out for longer, but are designed to retain heat in cold weather, but not shed excess heat in hot weather.

Personally I already have a lower than avg carbon footprint print (Londoner who doesn’t drive), no children, don’t take many flights because I’m not wealthy

I don’t agree with using ac at full throttle either (pretty sure read it’s more efficient when not set too low from actual temp anyway)

When indoor temps are reaching 40c and higher in some London flats, I don’t think ceiling fans alone will cut it

We have a portable air con unit. If we ever put an extension on the house I would look into installing proper AC in that extension if its possible, even just for the bedroom would be ideal.

No i think it’s a one time thing, everyone I know has been hit with the massive bills they cause for the last few months

We’re skipping portable AC and have booked to get a multi split system installed. I think having some type of AC is going to become as much a necessity (at least in the south) as heating tbh, especially for families with babies/young children and the elderly or those with health conditions. I know people who have been staying at local hotels because of the AC which is clearly not sustainable.

I think you’ll be surprised , obviously as long as the blades are long enough.
but mum has one in her kitchen and we have it running low all day and it is gloriously cool when we’re ready to cook.
And I don’t think your argument that you personally have a low carbon footprint entitles you to use more energy.

I’ve had proper air conditioning in my bedroom in two west facing houses in South East since 2007.

being heavily pregnant on the day it reach 100F in 2003 stayed with me ….

Not in Scotland but rest of UK yes.

I was referring to the houses where I live in Scotland, fairly new and there is various insulation, double glazing, most people have carpets as well to stay warm in winter. I don't doubt there is lots of houses that leak heat in winter. Its more that they say the insulation is supposed to help keep the homes cool in summer also but I really don't find that at all even doing all the recommended keeping windows and curtains closed until the sun is down and so on.

And I'm sure you flying to Spain has used more energy than my a/c unit in the attic.

Or did you travel via donkey?