Between heat and comfort: Residential cooling practices and housing conditions in australia

Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme heat are increasing residential cooling demand worldwide. In Australia, cooling is essential for maintaining indoor comfort and protecting health during hot conditions, driving increased reliance on air conditioning, one of the most electricity-intensive household appliances. Besides increasing electricity costs, cooling demand also strains electricity systems and contributes to carbon emissions. However, most research has focused on the technical and economic dimensions of cooling demand, with less attention given to the social and behavioural dynamics shaping everyday cooling practices. This study examines residential cooling practices in Australia using the Energy Cultures Framework to analyse how material conditions, cognitive norms, and everyday practices shape household cooling cultures. The analysis is based on a nationally representative survey of 1821 Australian households. Cooling practices are classified into three typologies: Intensive, Adaptive, and Limited cooling, based on thermostat settings, cooling duration, frequency of use, and appliance deployment. The results reveal substantial variation in household cooling practices. Cooling intensity is shaped primarily by household composition, dwelling characteristics, thermal tolerance, and technological conditions. Counterintuitively, rooftop solar ownership and awareness of air-conditioning energy efficiency are associated with more intensive cooling practices rather than reduced cooling demand. Environmental attitudes show comparatively weak associations with cooling behaviour, indicating a clear attitude-behaviour gap. These findings highlight the importance of socio-material conditions in shaping residential cooling demand. Structural measures such as improving building thermal performance and expanding efficient cooling technologies may be more effective than behavioural messaging alone in managing future cooling demand.