Inside, it's cool; outside, the air is hot: How air conditioning systems contribute to overheating in cities

Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026

Der Standard

Air conditioning units increase urban heat, raising local temperatures by up to 2.4 degrees during heatwaves.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Air conditioning units, while making indoor environments more bearable during heatwaves, also contribute to warming the immediate surroundings by up to 2.4 degrees Celsius. Urban areas are particularly affected by this heat due to concentrated impermeable surfaces, dense construction, limited green spaces, and heat sources like traffic and air conditioners.

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