Following a scorching summer months of British Columbia perspiring and sweating through a collection of heat waves, new facts from BC Hydro shows we are more dependent on air conditioning than at any time.
Because of to the temperate local climate in the Pacific Northwest, air conditioning has customarily not been the norm in the province, with BC air conditioning usage being very well below the countrywide regular.
Nevertheless, with the unparalleled heat that roasted most of the province this summer season, that void has shut, the Crown business reported.
“The use of air conditioning appears to have elevated almost as substantially in 1 summer season as it has over the previous 10 decades blended,” it claims.
“In point, the the greater part of British Columbians now see air conditioning as a requirement – not a luxury.”
In accordance to a survey performed for BC Hydro, extra than 20 p.c of British Columbians purchased or upgraded their air conditioning and techniques this summer season.
That amount could have been better as people today had been constrained by offered out air conditioners, it claimed.
The file breaking temperatures also drove energy demand to an all-time superior, BC Hydro claimed, breaking documents for three consecutive days.
The best hourly peak summertime demand from customers was recorded on June 28th in the course of the extreme warmth spell that contributed to hundreds of unexpected sudden fatalities in BC and the destruction of the village of Lytton by forest fires. On that day, energy need reached 8,568 megawatts, or the equal to turn on 600,000 portable air conditioners.
Air conditioning use has amplified in British Columbia, with just about 40 p.c of British Columbians having air conditioning at residence, up from about 25 per cent a ten years back.
BC Hydro reported folks thinking of shopping for air conditioning or upgrading their units before up coming summer should consider shopping for a heat pump that is additional economical and could help you save cash on utility payments in the prolonged operate, or acquiring air conditioning that are regarded as an “Electricity Star” for the reason that they use all around 30 to 40 % much less electric power than standard gadgets.
The on the net survey of 800 British Columbians was carried out by marketplace researcher Majid Khoury for BC Hydro from August 19-22, 2021.
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