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Experts Urge Passive Cooling as AC Fuels Heat Islands

7/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

Oliver Sanders of Didcot installed an air-conditioning unit as temperatures hit 27 °C.
Tristan Spence of TRS Cooling said new-build homeowners request units because tight insulation traps heat.
Spence warned that air-conditioning expels heat outdoors, raising street temperatures, and cited research that the heat-island effect can raise nighttime city temperatures up to 7 °C above rural levels.
Nethmi Kariyawasam of Oxford University's Smith School urged passive cooling, shading before using air-conditioning.

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Story summary

Oliver Sanders of Didcot installed an air-conditioning unit as temperatures hit 27 °C.
Tristan Spence of TRS Cooling said new-build homeowners request units because tight insulation traps heat.
Spence warned that air-conditioning expels heat outdoors, raising street temperatures, and cited research that the heat-island effect can raise nighttime city temperatures up to 7 °C above rural levels.
Nethmi Kariyawasam of Oxford University's Smith School urged passive cooling, shading before using air-conditioning.