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Times
26-06-2025
- General
- Times
The cost of chillin' — is air conditioning worth it?
Restless nights of tossing and turning in bed have become a common theme for people across the UK in recent weeks due to the heatwave, leading many households to consider getting air conditioning. The UK has typically been averse to getting air con in the home, often baffling tourists — particularly Americans — during these increasingly hot summer months. Yet while government regulations have ordered housebuilders to ensure all new homes mitigate overheating, most residential properties in the UK are still designed with the key purpose of keeping the heat in. Oliver Novakovic, the head of technical and innovation at Barratt Redrow, the UK's largest housebuilder, says air-conditioning units are not on the company's agenda. 'Air conditioning is not something that comes up when we do our customer research, people are more concerned about how to keep heating costs down in winter.' Yet attitudes seem to be changing. The proportion of UK homes overheating in the summer has jumped from 20 per cent in 2011 to 82 per cent in 2022, according to a paper published this month in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. The researchers found that this had also led to the use of air conditioners in UK homes rising from 3 per cent to 20 per cent over the same period. So what are the pros and cons of getting air con at home — and how do you go about it? We break down the key questions. A portable air conditioner is a stand-alone unit about the size of a kitchen bin that can be plugged into a socket and moved to any room. This makes them especially good for those in rented accommodation. They also do not require professional installation and units start at about £150. Natalie Hitchins, the head of technology content at the consumer rights group Which?, says: 'For renters or those who want a quick, icy blast, freestanding portable air conditioners are the best bet. Fitted air conditioning is significantly more expensive than a portable unit, and installation can be complex and disruptive.' A portable unit works the same way as a fitted air conditioner — pulling in warm air from a room and expelling cool air — but it has an exhaust hose attached to it to get rid of the heat, rather than having a section that sits outside the house. This means a portable air conditioner always needs to be near an open window or door where the hose can expel hot air. This can cause issues for people at night if they want to draw the blinds or close a door. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement Portable air conditioners are technically cheaper to run, with the comparison site Uswitch finding that a portable unit would cost an average of £17.22 to run for nine hours a day for seven days, compared with £46.49 for a built-in unit. But they are not as efficient as fitted air conditioners, with the single hose design usually still drawing some warm air into the room, meaning they take more power and are likely to be left running for longer to cool a room. They are also louder. Joe Stein, the director of AllStar Electrical & Air Conditioning, a London-based firm, says: 'The problem with portable units is they tend to be very loud, generating the same sort of noise you used to hear from the old fitted units, and they also suck up a lot of electricity.' Stein says his calculations for running air conditioning for nine hours a day would put a portable unit at £21.92 a week and a fitted unit at £10.96 a week. A fitted unit tends to be more energy-efficient, quieter and sleeker looking. The cheapest and simplest option is to have the air-conditioning box mounted to a high or low position on a wall inside your house. Units can also be installed in the ceiling or even in cupboards, known as concealed units. Air conditioning can also be installed in the loft of a home, with ducts distributing the cool air to different rooms, although this is often tricky to retrofit and is better to get done when first doing a loft installation. A fitted unit requires space for one section — the external condenser — to be outside the house, and will need to be installed by a registered gas engineer. The inside and outside sections are connected by insulated pipes that are typically about 3-5m in length but can reach as far as 30m, or 100m on bigger commercial systems. The most simple and cheapest fitted unit will just have one indoor and one outdoor section, serving one room and is called a single-split unit. A more complex system is multi-split units, in which there are a maximum of five indoor units connected to one external condenser, catering to different rooms in the house. Stein says a multi-split unit is useful if you live in a block of flats with just a balcony to store the outdoor unit, but the cost of installation is more expensive, and will also usually require redecorating if the pipes need to run through the ceiling to get from a bedroom to the balcony. Almost any type of property can have fitted air conditioning, but some types of homes will require more work, according to Stein. Terraced houses are more difficult than detached houses because the outer part of the unit can only be fixed at the front or back of the house, rather than the sides, so the pipes have to run a longer distance if they are on a multi-split system. Stein adds: 'The most difficult property tends to be flats because you have to get the machines up to the balcony, cut the ceilings and plasterboard to run the pipes through it, and then redecorate the area.' The installation cost can be significant. Stein says: 'It all depends on the type of installation, but the cost of a fitted unit will start at around £1,500-£1,600 for the smallest type of unit in a small bedroom.' This means that installing a fitted unit into five bedrooms would cost a minimum of about £7,500. The installation of a single-split unit takes about half a day. Most engineers will visit the property beforehand, although some do video calls, and companies such as Boxt, a website that organises installations, enables customers to provide the necessary information online. Whether it is a fitted or portable unit, air conditioners are likely to improve your ability to sleep during particularly hot nights and your mood during the day if working from home. Adam Knight, the lead engineer at Boxt, says: 'Air conditioning gives you consistent, controllable comfort, better sleep and improved air quality. It's also quieter and more energy-efficient than people realise, especially when compared with most portable fans or electric heaters.' He adds that modern fitted air-conditioning systems also can be flipped to heat rooms during the winter, offering longer-term value overall. They also usually hit the required temperature quicker than radiators that rely on boilers. Those suffering from bad hayfever also benefit, with air conditioning filtering allergens such as pollen and dust. This all comes at a price, though. The running costs will depend on the unit's power and size, as well as the temperature of the room it is cooling, but Natalie Mathie, an energy expert at Uswitch, says: 'It's easy to build up a hefty bill, especially during a heatwave.' Portable air-conditioning units use about 1 kilowatt of power an hour, according to Uswitch, costing about 27p an hour to run, while a built-in unit uses 2.7 kilowatts a hour, costing about 73p an hour. In contrast, an electric pedestal fan running for nine hours a day for seven days would only cost £1.03. There is also the environmental impact. Novakovic says: 'The issue with air conditioning is it introduces a lot of carbon. You don't really want to bring air conditioning into homes because of the amount of carbon it would create.' ● Are heat pumps financially worth it? Between now and 2050, cooling technologies including air-conditioning units are predicted to become the biggest contributor to growing energy demand, according to the International Energy Agency. In the UK, hydrofluorocarbons — the most commonly used refrigerants in the units — are being phased out due to being potent greenhouse gases, but more eco-friendly alternatives, such as hydrofluoroolefins, can still create ecological damage when they break down in the atmosphere. Heat pumps Phil Strickland, the technical director at 21 Degrees, which provides energy-efficient installations for the home, says: 'Nearly all heat pumps can run in reverse mode and do cooling, reducing the temperature in all your rooms by three to four degrees.' However, this only works if the heat pump is powering emitters such as underfloor heating or fan coil units, but not for radiators. New-build homes Government regulations introduced in 2022 ordered all housebuilders to ensure that the temperature in their properties' bedrooms overnight does not exceed 26C for a prolonged period. Novakovic says: 'It's been a positive in that the sector is considering overheating in more detail than it did previously.' He says housebuilders are more focused on bringing better ventilation through the home, as well as innovations such as shaded glazing, which allows light but not heat in. Strickland adds: 'You can now get glazing where the glass reflects the sun back out again with a special coating, so it lets the light in, but reflects the UV light back out.' ● Welcome to the world of 'personal cooling tech' Fans Electric fans are a much cheaper option to buy and run than air conditioning and can cool you as long as the temperature is less than 35C. However, it does not actively cool the air, just moves it round, with the wind on the skin helping to make sweat evaporate more quickly. Shading and curtains A lot of heat in our homes comes through windows, especially those that are south-facing. Closing curtains once the outside temperature starts to climb helps to prevent some of this heat getting into the room. Outdoor shutters and inward opening windows help to cool the house and are a common sight in Mediterranean countries — and they are simple to install. A DIY version of this is to hang a sheet over the outside of your window. Wet floor A simple trick to bring the heat down in a room is mopping a tiled floor, and leaving the water to evaporate, cooling the tiles. But this will increase humidity in the house.
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
The truth about getting air con at home – and how much it costs
As the week-long heatwave looks set to continue, the rush for air con is on. A staggering 80pc of homes in the UK experience overheating each summer according to a recent study – and cracking a window or enlisting a desk fan no longer cuts it. The use of air con has risen seven-fold in the last decade, according to a paper published in Energy Research & Social Science this month. The full-time cooling units once dismissed as 'too American' are now becoming an increasingly common fixture in UK homes. 'Hybrid working means that more people are spending time at home during the warmest hours of the day,' says Ben Gallizzi, the energy expert at 'and with temperatures soaring this week, many of us will be looking enviously at friends and family who have invested in air con units.' Gallizzi says that air con use has jumped by 90pc in the last two years due to record hot summers, with the Met Office this week warning that the prospect of temperatures exceeding 40°C have become 20 times more likely than in the 1960s. ' If this continues,' says Gallizzi, 'the increase in air-conditioned homes likely will, too.' If you're thinking of joining the air con boom, which type should you pick? And how might your wallet – and the planet – be affected? Telegraph Money takes you through what you need to know: Should you get portable or fitted unit? For renters or those who want a quick, icy blast, free-standing portable air conditioners are likely the best bet. 'However, they will only cool the air in the room they're in and won't circulate it anywhere else in the house,' says Natalie Hitchins, of Which?. 'Due to condensation, water droplets collect, so you'll need to manually remove the water from the tank every so often and clean the filter at the same time.' Those wanting to go the whole hog will need to choose between getting HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units mounted to the wall (known as wall-split air conditioners), or ceilings (called ceiling cassettes). Both are fitted with an indoor and external unit. HVACs circulate refrigerant through the units mounted indoors and fitted to the exterior of the property, which absorb the heat from the air inside, and then release it outdoors. They do not pump cold air into the home. How much does a unit cost? 'For a fitted unit, prices start at around £1,500,' explains Joe Stein, of AllStar Electrical & Air Conditioning, with costs rising to around £5,000, depending on the size of the room and sleekness of the unit (concealed ones demand a premium). What are the running costs of air con? The weekly running costs depend on a number of factors including unit size and power, and the ambient temperature of the room the unit is in, Stein says. 'It could be £1.50 per night [when used for eight hours at a time during the summer],' he adds. 'If you have taken the plunge with air conditioning, don't forget that it's easy to build up a hefty electricity bill,' Gallizzi advises. Portable air conditioning units typically use 1 kilowatt (kW) of power, which means they will cost 27p an hour in electricity. Built-in units, meanwhile, 'can be even more energy-intensive, with a 2.7kW unit costing you 73p an hour to run'. Gallizzi adds that power ratings of fitted units should always be checked prior to installation in order to understand what the running costs will be. 'If you're looking for a short-term fix during a heatwave, a desktop fan is far less energy-hungry – using less than 1p an hour – and can be bought for as little as £10.' How does it differ from a heat pump? Heat pumps can also cool rooms, and are thought to be more efficient than air conditioning. Air conditioners need to be paired with a furnace in order to heat as well as cool and, thus, typically involve higher running costs than pumps (though they are cheaper to install initially). In terms of environmental costs, Stein says that the A+++ rated HVACs are 'energy-efficient compared to the old AC units'. However, a policy brief from the University of Exeter last year was less optimistic, saying that continued mass take-up of cooling systems would continue to increase 'direct and indirect carbon emissions, creating new challenges within energy systems and leading to growing inequalities within society'. It is hoped that smart technology, such as phone apps that can remotely control home units and turn them off from wherever the homeowner is when they are not in use, can minimise excess emissions. Ditto a growing range of greener options, such as solar-powered units and the development of eco-friendlier refrigerants used within them. How noisy are they? 'Fixed air conditioners are quieter and usually more efficient than portable models,' Hitchins says. However, no modern model should be loud enough to disturb the neighbours. At worst, Stein adds – i.e. if the outdoor part of the unit is next to a neighbour's open window – 'it would be the same level as street noise'. Can I use air con to heat up my home in winter? Air con units needn't only be a summer saviour. They both cool and heat a room and typically reach the required temperature more quickly than radiators (which rely on boilers), meaning less energy is used in the process. There is also heat loss and wasted energy associated with sending heated water long distances through pipes, which may make air con more useful in winter, too. Is it too late to get air con this summer? No, units can typically be fitted in a matter of weeks, depending on your location and the size of the job. Contractors will typically carry out a site visit first (for a mounted unit) to assess the type of HVAC required, before returning a second time to get it fitted.
Iraqi News
11-03-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Trump's Energy Secretary vows reversal of Biden climate policies
Houston – The US Energy Secretary vowed Monday to reset federal energy policy to favor fossil fuels and deprioritize climate change as industry leaders gathered at their biggest event since President Donald Trump returned to office. In the conference's opening session, Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited the Trump administration's moves to cut red tape delaying oil projects and promote liquefied natural gas exports (LNG) as examples of a pivot away from policies pursued under former president Joe Biden. 'The Trump administration will end the Biden administration's irrational quasi-religious policies on climate change that imposed endless sacrifices on our citizens,' Wright told a packed auditorium for the annual Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) conference. Since returning to Washington less than two months ago, Trump and his team have overhauled the existing economic order at a dizzying pace, launching trade wars against allies and hollowing government agencies the president and his allies dislike. Trump made energy policy a central part of his agenda with his day-one 'Unleashing American Energy' executive order, promising during his inaugural address to 'end the Green New Deal' in favor of 'that liquid gold under our feet.' Environmentalists have criticized these shifts as leaving the world vulnerable to catastrophic climate change. Wright's 'speech made clear that he and the rest of the Trump administration are ready to sacrifice our communities and climate for the profits of the fossil fuel industry,' said Allie Rosenbluth, US campaign manager for Oil Change International, which planned a rally in downtown Houston outside the CERA event. – How much change ahead? – Energy played a key supporting role in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in which he pointed to higher gasoline prices as a reason more production was needed, embodied by his slogan: 'Drill, Baby, Drill.' Trump's January 20 executive order represents a potentially wide-ranging attack on tax incentives which had been embraced by energy companies to advance billions of dollars of energy transition projects. These projects were connected to laws enacted during Biden's presidency to mitigate climate change. Some pundits think Trump will stop short of actions canceling existing projects where workers have been hired, including many in conservative districts. But the abrupt shift from the climate-focused Biden to Trump likely 'turns 2025 into a paralyzed year where folks are hesitant to push on any kind of decarbonization,' said Dan Pickering of Pickering Energy Partners, a Houston advisory and investment firm. Wright described his approach as an 'all the above' stance that can include renewable energy, although he told a press conference after the address that offshore wind projects were a waste of money that are 'very unpopular' with communities. At an event last week in Louisiana, Wright touted an announcement by Venture Global of an $18 billion expansion of a liquefied natural gas export facility, highlighting Trump's reversal of a Biden freeze on permitting new LNG export capacity. Trump has ridiculed the environmental concerns at the center of Biden's policy, championing LNG exports as a way to strengthen America's ties with energy importing countries. But there has been widespread skepticism about Trump's message urging the industry to significantly boost oil and gas drilling in order to lift output and lower energy prices. Wall Street has also signaled a clear preference for robust industry profits that can continue to allow for dividends and stock buybacks. – Questions for Europe – At CERA, European officials will meet on panels to discuss Europe at a crossroads after shifting away from Russian energy supplies. In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US LNG 'played a super important role' for Europe as the continent sought to lessen its dependence on Russian gas, said Jonathan Elkind, a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. However, Trump's realignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin has forced European leaders to reckon with the system's long-term viability. For the near future, including at CERA, Elkind expects European officials to continue to speak optimistically of the prospects for more US LNG. But 'at the back of their mind… it's pretty hard to tell whether Donald Trump is friend or foe and that's a shocking thing to say after 70 years of a close alliance,' Elkind said.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Energy Secretary vows reversal of Biden climate policies
The US Energy Secretary vowed Monday to reset federal energy policy to favor fossil fuels and deprioritize climate change as industry leaders gathered at their biggest event since President Donald Trump returned to office. In the conference's opening session, Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited the Trump administration's moves to cut red tape delaying oil projects and promote liquefied natural gas exports (LNG) as examples of a pivot away from policies pursued under former president Joe Biden. "The Trump administration will end the Biden administration's irrational quasi-religious policies on climate change that imposed endless sacrifices on our citizens," Wright told a packed auditorium for the annual Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) conference. Since returning to Washington less than two months ago, Trump and his team have overhauled the existing economic order at a dizzying pace, launching trade wars against allies and hollowing government agencies the president and his allies dislike. Trump made energy policy a central part of his agenda with his day-one "Unleashing American Energy" executive order, promising during his inaugural address to "end the Green New Deal" in favor of "that liquid gold under our feet." Environmentalists have criticized these shifts as leaving the world vulnerable to catastrophic climate change. Wright's "speech made clear that he and the rest of the Trump administration are ready to sacrifice our communities and climate for the profits of the fossil fuel industry," said Allie Rosenbluth, US campaign manager for Oil Change International, which planned a rally in downtown Houston outside the CERA event. - How much change ahead? - Energy played a key supporting role in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in which he pointed to higher gasoline prices as a reason more production was needed, embodied by his slogan: "Drill, Baby, Drill." Trump's January 20 executive order represents a potentially wide-ranging attack on tax incentives which had been embraced by energy companies to advance billions of dollars of energy transition projects. These projects were connected to laws enacted during Biden's presidency to mitigate climate change. Some pundits think Trump will stop short of actions canceling existing projects where workers have been hired, including many in conservative districts. But the abrupt shift from the climate-focused Biden to Trump likely "turns 2025 into a paralyzed year where folks are hesitant to push on any kind of decarbonization," said Dan Pickering of Pickering Energy Partners, a Houston advisory and investment firm. Wright described his approach as an "all the above" stance that can include renewable energy, although he told a press conference after the address that offshore wind projects were a waste of money that are "very unpopular" with communities. At an event last week in Louisiana, Wright touted an announcement by Venture Global of an $18 billion expansion of a liquefied natural gas export facility, highlighting Trump's reversal of a Biden freeze on permitting new LNG export capacity. Trump has ridiculed the environmental concerns at the center of Biden's policy, championing LNG exports as a way to strengthen America's ties with energy importing countries. But there has been widespread skepticism about Trump's message urging the industry to significantly boost oil and gas drilling in order to lift output and lower energy prices. Wall Street has also signaled a clear preference for robust industry profits that can continue to allow for dividends and stock buybacks. - Questions for Europe - At CERA, European officials will meet on panels to discuss Europe at a crossroads after shifting away from Russian energy supplies. In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US LNG "played a super important role" for Europe as the continent sought to lessen its dependence on Russian gas, said Jonathan Elkind, a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. However, Trump's realignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin has forced European leaders to reckon with the system's long-term viability. For the near future, including at CERA, Elkind expects European officials to continue to speak optimistically of the prospects for more US LNG. But "at the back of their mind... it's pretty hard to tell whether Donald Trump is friend or foe and that's a shocking thing to say after 70 years of a close alliance," Elkind said. jmb/jgc
