Income, Education, and Access: Analyzing Air Conditioning Ownership in the U.S.

As climate change intensifies extreme heat events, access to effective and energy-efficient cooling technologies, particularly central air conditioning (AC), has become increasingly critical. This study investigates the demographic and housing factors associated with central AC ownership in the United States, using the 2020 U.S. Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) microdata. Focusing on income, education, race, climate region, density, and household size, the analysis employs regression models to assess the likelihood of owning (1) central AC, (2) recently purchased AC, and (3) both new and central AC. The study finds that higher income and educational attainment are strongly associated with increased odds of owning central and newer AC systems, especially in single-family homes. These disparities highlight the ongoing issue of energy insecurity and unequal access to climate-adaptive infrastructure. Finally, the findings emphasize the importance of targeted energy policies and incentives prioritizing equity in adopting sustainable cooling technologies.