Warming U.S. Cities Face Higher Cooling Demand and Energy Bills

Analysis of cooling degree days (CDD) shows that 97% of 241 major U.S. cities experienced increased cooling demand since 1970, with an average increase of 37%. This trend, combined with a 31% rise in residential electricity prices between 2020 and 2025, increases the financial burden on households, particularly low-income families. In 2020, the ten states with the highest cooling costs saw average household expenditures between $378 in Hawaii and $712 in Arizona. Future projections suggest U.S. household cooling demand will rise 43% by 2050. The report also highlights systemic risks, including electricity grid strain, increased carbon emissions from fossil-fuel-reliant cooling, and the urban heat island effect caused by waste heat from air conditioners.

• Cooling demand, measured by cooling degree days (CDD), has risen in the vast majority of major U.S. cities since 1970. Of the 241 cities analyzed, 97% (233 cities) saw an increase, with an average rise of 37% in cooling demand since the early 1970s.
• The Northwest and West regions experienced the most significant increases in annual CDD compared to the early 1970s, rising by 90% and 57% respectively. Specific cities with the largest increases include Reno, NV (+417%), Helena, MT (+179%), Seattle, WA (+160%), Santa Maria, CA (+124%), and Portland, OR (+113%).

APA

Climate Central (2026). Warming U.S. Cities Face Higher Cooling Demand and Energy Bills. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-cities-higher-cooling-demand

Chicago

Climate Central. Warming U.S. Cities Face Higher Cooling Demand and Energy Bills. 2026. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-cities-higher-cooling-demand.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Warming U.S. Cities Face Higher Cooling Demand and Energy Bills |date=5 August 2026 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-cities-higher-cooling-demand |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2026warming, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Warming U.S. Cities Face Higher Cooling Demand and Energy Bills}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2026}, month = aug, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-cities-higher-cooling-demand}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }