YouGov data: Passive cooling widespread in Britain, alongside mixed views on AC

New data collected in mid-August by YouGov – as part of a wider European survey on overheating and climate change – reveals Britons views and actions while trying to keep cool amidst the long summer of heat extremes.

On cooling:

• Almost half (46%) said they were ‘not able to cool their home to a comfortable temperature’ during the recent heatwaves.
• Passive cooling approaches are by far the most common ways to keep cool during recent heat – ‘Keeping blinds/curtains/shutters closed’ was most widely reported (78%), followed by ‘opening windows’ (75%) and ‘using electric fans’ (72%). Just 2% said “I have not needed to cool my home”.
• More (41%) felt that issues of overheating can be solved without more widespread adoption of air conditioning, although 36% felt these issues cannot be solved.
• More (36%) felt that the government should prioritise encouraging alternative (passive) methods of keeping
  homes cool (e.g. external shutters, insulation, reflective roofs), than AC (14%) – while a third (32%) felt they should be prioritised equally.

On AC:

• 11% reported having permanent or portable AC installed – while 88% do not. Of those who did have AC (n=219), more than half (53%) have had it for less than two years, while 19% have had it for more than five years – showing how this way of coping with heat is rapidly changing amongst successive heat episodes.
• But amongst those without AC already installed, there were mixed views: 35% said they want it, while 39% said don’t want it.
• The biggest reason for not having AC was the cost of buying and/or installing it (68%), and the cost of electricity to run it (49%).
• If air conditioning became widespread in homes in the UK, around half (47%) felt it would not make much difference either way on people’s dedication to tackling climate change – but 25% were concerned about people becoming less dedicated.

On climate:

• More than two-thirds (69%) were fairly or very concerned about climate change and it’s effects, including 88% of Labour voters, 86% of Green voters and 63% of Conservatives. Reform diverged the most here with a third (33%) saying they were worried.
• More (44%) felt the government ‘Are not doing or spending enough to try and tackle climate change’ than those saying they are spending too much (25%).