By Isabella O’Malley | Associated Press
Temperatures have reached or exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) throughout the entire month of July in Phoenix. Air conditioning is crucial in this modern city.
When the sky is cloudless and outdoor temperatures surpass 100 F, houses in Phoenix become like “air fryers” or “broilers,” as the roof absorbs intense heat and radiates it downwards, according to Jonathan Bean, co-director of the Institute for Energy Solutions at the University of Arizona. Bean has firsthand experience with this after his own air conditioner broke last weekend.
“The current level of heat in Phoenix is extremely dangerous, especially for those who either lack air conditioning or cannot afford to use it,” said Evan Mallen, a senior analyst for the Urban Climate Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Despite the heat, some people are reducing their AC usage out of fear of high electricity bills that will come later.
Camille Rabany, 29, has developed her own system to stay cool during the Arizona heatwave, both for herself and her 10-month-old Saint Bernard Rigley. After trial and error, Rabany found that she can tolerate a temperature of 83 F to keep her utility bill low.
By monitoring the on-peak and off-peak schedule of her utility, Arizona Public Service, with the help of her NEST smart thermostat, Rabany keeps her home at that temperature from 4 to 7 p.m., the most expensive hours. She uses fans and has a cooling bed for Rigley, and they both endure until the utility’s official peak hours pass.
“During those hours, I keep it at the hottest temperature I’m willing to tolerate because I have a dog,” she said. Last month, Rabany’s utility bill was around $150.
Emily Schmidt’s cooling strategy in Tempe, Ariz. also revolves around her dog. Air conditioning is a constant topic of discussion with her partner, she said.
“Sometimes I wish I could have it cooler, but we have to balance saving money and ensuring the house isn’t too hot for our pets,” Schmidt said.
With the relentless heat recently, “I’m honestly afraid of what the electric bill will be, which makes budgeting difficult with rent and other utilities,” she added.
Katie Martin, administrator of home improvements and community services at the Foundation for Senior Living, also recognizes the issue with pets. Older individuals on limited incomes are making dangerous compromises and often avoid cooling centers that don’t allow pets.
“In recent years, we have found that most of the seniors we serve keep their thermostat at 80 F to save money,” she explained.
Many of these individuals also lack a support network of family or friends to rely on in case their air conditioner malfunctions.
Breakdowns can be perilous. Models from Georgia Tech demonstrate that indoor temperatures can be even hotter than outdoors, which is something people in poorly-insulated homes worldwide are familiar with. “A single-family, one-story detached home with a large, flat roof can heat up by over 40 degrees in a matter of hours if it doesn’t have air conditioning,” Mallen said.
The Salvation Army operates 11 cooling stations across the Phoenix area. Lt. Colonel Ivan Wild, commander of the organization’s southwest division, revealed that some visitors currently can’t afford their electricity bills or lack adequate air conditioning.
“I spoke to one elderly lady who said her air conditioning is just too expensive to run. So she comes to the Salvation Army, stays for a few hours, socializes with others, and then goes home when it’s not as hot,” he stated.
While extreme heat is a recurring phenomenon every summer in Phoenix, Wild mentioned that a couple of Salvation Army cooling centers have seen more visitors than last year. Since May 1, the Salvation Army estimates that they have provided heat relief to nearly 24,000 people and distributed nearly 150,000 water bottles in Arizona and Southern Nevada.
Marilyn Brown, regents professor of sustainable systems at Georgia Tech, pointed out that high air conditioning bills force people to cut back on other expenses. “People sacrifice a lot just to run their air conditioner… They might have to forgo some medication or cut down on gasoline for their car to go to work or school,” she stated.
“That’s why we have such an alarming cycle of poverty. It’s difficult to break free from it, especially once you become burdened by energy costs and poverty,” Brown added.
Beatrice Dupuy contributed to this story from New York and Melina Walling contributed from Chicago.