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UK Liberal Democrats urge air conditioning in all new homes
The plan would make “climate ready” cooling requirements legal for new builds, including air conditioning or other systems, and extend to essential public buildings like schools and health facilities.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for new UK homes to be built with air conditioning, arguing the current housing stock is poorly prepared for extreme heat as temperatures rise.
The party says its “climate ready” programme would set a legal requirement for developers to include air conditioning or another cooling system, and it would apply especially to older people or those in poor health.
The proposal would also cover essential public buildings such as schools and health facilities. The push comes as the UK Health Protection Agency has issued a yellow alert for high temperatures from Tuesday morning until Friday morning across parts of England, with London forecast to reach 32C on Wednesday before cooling.
The Guardian Business reports that industry estimates say the number of homes with air conditioning has doubled over the past three years, but it still stands at about 4 million out of an estimated 30 million-plus homes. In polling commissioned by the Lib Dems, 28% said they bought a fan or air conditioning unit during recent heatwaves, and 26% said the conditions left them feeling unwell or faint.