In the face of climate change, air conditioning in Seattle remains contentious

After the usual dreary winter, Seattleites have finally emerged to enjoy the elusive sunshine. For many, this increase in sunlight and warmth is a joyous experience — until they get home to find that the heat followed them inside. Cue the nights of tossing and turning under sweat-soaked sheets, the only respite the lukewarm air from a dusty fan. At a time like this, many of us are desperately wishing our apartments came with air conditioning (AC).

Unfortunately, climate change makes this discomfort unlikely to mellow out anytime soon. According to the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, experts predict that by 2050, temperatures on the hottest days could increase by an average of 6.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Even nighttime temperatures are expected to rise, preventing homes from cooling at night.

For people without cooling, heat can impact their ability to work, sleep, and exist in a comfortable environment. Naatya Anukonda, a fourth-year student living without AC, explained how her hot apartment affects her daily habits. 

“I definitely have trouble sleeping,” Anukonda said. “I did have to buy a fan separately. But also I feel like I just get lethargic in general. So during the spring and summer, my roommates will come home, and I’ll be passed out on the couch all the time.”

It’s true that other cities get much hotter, and people from warmer states may label Seattleites as “dramatic” during these heatwaves. However, longtime Seattle residents may be less acclimatized to heat compared to people from hotter regions, increasing vulnerability during high temperatures. Due to Seattle’s historically mild climate, our buildings are not equipped to provide active cooling, which can contribute to overheating.

As Seattle summers become hotter, widespread AC seems like the inevitable solution. While the prevalence of AC in homes has increased in the last few decades, as of 2021 only about half of Seattle households had some sort of air conditioning.

Dr. Andrew Dannenberg, an affiliate professor at UW in the department of environmental & occupational sciences and the department of urban design and planning, argued that mandating AC in buildings would receive pushback from contractors. Essentially, enforcing more building codes increases the likelihood that contractors will simply move their projects elsewhere.

“The builders are businessmen — they’re not in it for health, they’re going to do what they think will sell,” Dannenberg said. “They’ll do what the minimum requirements are, but they probably won’t do extra unless they think [it’ll] sell and make more money.”

AC is notoriously expensive, and contractors are unlikely to include it in new construction unless they have financial incentives. Retrofitting — the process of installing AC in older buildings — is also unappealing. The buildings’ structural integrity can be compromised, and the procedure also typically costs thousands of dollars.

Even if Seattle could afford to install AC everywhere, doing so comes with another cost. Currently, AC accounts for roughly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, with demand predicted to increase as global temperatures rise. This creates a vicious cycle of warming: fighting the heat with more greenhouse gases only further exacerbates the problem.

As wonderful as it would be to have the comfort of widespread AC, it is just one solution to a bigger problem. Instead of relying completely on AC, Seattle should focus on adapting their urban design to provide natural cooling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigating financial burden. 

Upgrading urban design helps to prevent overheating in the first place, while AC only attempts to bandage the underlying problem. Changing the color of roofs, planting vegetation on buildings, and installing heat pumps — a device that transfers heat in and out, mimicking AC without creating cold air — are all viable solutions.

This is not to say that people should not invest in AC units. This form of cooling is incredibly important for protecting vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and infants. However, growing heat risk must be managed by combining strategies to consider what’s best — and most feasible — for Seattle. 

Reach contributing writer Marissa McLean at opinion@dailyuw.com. X: @marissammclean. Bluesky: @marissamclean.bsky.social.

Like what you’re reading? Support high-quality student journalism by donating here.