The first widespread study into air conditioner ownership in Canada found British Columbians are less likely than those in every other province to use cooling units.

Statistics Canada released its study into the prevalence of household air conditioning on Wednesday (July 19), which among other findings showed B.C. air conditioner use is well below the national average.

Six in 10 Canadians have access to air conditioning in their homes, but only 32 per cent of British Columbians do. While the west coastsa国际传媒檚 historically moderate climate differs from humid areas like Ontario, where 85 per cent of people have AC, access to cooling has been front of mind in recent summers following the 2021 heat dome that led to 619 deaths in B.C.

sa国际传媒淲ith climate change projected to cause higher ambient temperatures and longer, more frequent and more intense extreme heat events, the health impacts of heat exposure are expected to increase,sa国际传媒� the data agency said.

Air conditioning is one of the most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related death and illness, StatsCan said, but theresa国际传媒檚 been little study on its reach in Canada.

The figures StatsCan released on Wednesday sa国际传媒� which are the result of two surveys from 2017 sa国际传媒� look to inform climate change adaptation strategies by identifying populations that have high health risks from heat and low access to air conditioning.

The study looked at a number of groups who are especially vulnerable to heat, including older adults who live alone and had compromised health due to chronic illness. The B.C. Coroner Servicesa国际传媒檚 death panel into the heat dome found most of the people who died belonged to that group.

Racialized groups in B.C. were less likely to have AC, which was also the case in the prairies and the Atlantic provinces.

Looking nationwide, StatsCan revealed adults who live alone owned AC at significantly lower rates sa国际传媒� a trend that B.C. matched.

Low-income people in every other region have greater access to AC than those who fall into that economic status in B.C., where just one in four own cooling units. B.C. and the prairies were the only places where those with less than a high school education had greater access to AC than the regional average.

Homeowners were more likely to have an air conditioner in B.C., Quebec, Ontario and the prairies. StatsCan said that aligns with previous research that observed lower AC rates in multi-family rental housing.

sa国际传媒淩enters may have lower air conditioning rates because landlords do not provide air conditioning or building regulations may prohibit its use,sa国际传媒� StatsCan said.

The province recently put millions toward air conditioners for 8,000 vulnerable people and the housing ministry is currently looking at adding sa国际传媒渃ooling requirementssa国际传媒� into the provincial Building Code through a proposed update thatsa国际传媒檚 expected to come into force this December.

A housing ministry spokesperson said the province is proposing all new homes provide one living space that is designed not to exceed 26 C sa国际传媒� through elements like insulation, solar reflectivity or using cooling devices.

sa国际传媒淢andatory requirements for new buildings will help address the effects of extreme heat events on building occupants to improve public safety and better prevent fatalities,sa国际传媒� the spokesperson said.

Experts who research extreme heatsa国际传媒檚 impact on Canadians say solutions shouldnsa国际传媒檛 be tied to air conditioning alone.

A 2022 study from the University of Waterloosa国际传媒檚 Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation identifies B.C. valleys as one of three sa国际传媒渞ed zonessa国际传媒� in Canada that will be hardest hit by extreme heat.

Noting air conditioners produce heat outside that can contribute to urban heat-island effects, the studysa国际传媒檚 recommendations include expanding urban green spaces, plus requiring homes and communities to use cool (reflective) building and paving surfaces, high-performance windows, shading devices and green roofs or facades.

The report said the latter reduces heat transfer to the inside, lasts longer than conventional roofs despite sometimes having higher upfront costs, offers a food-growing and leisure amenity to residents, cuts stormwater runoff and absorbs carbon pollution.

The report also highlights that creating more heat-resilient communities leads to co-benefits like lower energy bills and operating costs, better foot traffic in retail areas, boosted productivity and an improved environment.

sa国际传媒淓xtreme heat is an urgent national issue for Canada. To avoid worsening impacts, fatalities and costs resulting from rising temperatures, swift action is required,sa国际传媒� the report states.

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