Fact Check: "90% of households in the US have air conditioning."
What We Know
According to the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, approximately 88% of U.S. households reported using air conditioning (AC). This figure indicates a significant prevalence of AC in American homes, with the highest usage rates observed in the Midwest (92%) and South (93%) regions. The survey also noted that two-thirds of households primarily relied on central AC or heat pumps, while individual AC units were more common in the Northeast, where 50% of homes utilized them.
Further corroboration comes from a report by ConsumerAffairs, which states that nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning as of 2020, reflecting an increase from 77% in 2001. Additionally, a more recent article from Scottmax indicates that this percentage has remained stable, with nearly 90% of households projected to use AC by 2025.
Analysis
The claim that "90% of households in the US have air conditioning" is supported by multiple reputable sources. The U.S. Energy Information Administration provides a detailed breakdown of AC usage across various regions, highlighting that while the national average is 88%, certain areas exceed 90%. This data is derived from a comprehensive survey involving 18,496 households, lending credibility to the findings.
The ConsumerAffairs report further emphasizes the trend of increasing AC usage over the years, which aligns with the data from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey. The consistency in these statistics across different years and sources strengthens the reliability of the claim.
However, it is essential to note that while the claim is accurate in a general sense, it is slightly overstated. The precise figure from the most recent survey is 88%, which is close to 90% but does not reach it. This nuance is important for a clear understanding of the data.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "90% of households in the US have air conditioning" is largely accurate, as the most recent data indicates that 88% of households utilize AC, with projections suggesting this figure will remain around 90% in the near future. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms the high prevalence of air conditioning in U.S. homes, despite the slight discrepancy in the exact percentage.
Sources
- Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020 - U.S. Energy Information Administration. Link
- THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Seattle - Tripadvisor. Link
- HVAC industry statistics 2025 - ConsumerAffairs. Link
- The 20 Best Restaurants In Seattle According To Locals - Secret Seattle. Link
- 13+ HVAC Industry Trends and Statistics - Scottmax.com. Link
- THE BEST 10 RESTAURANTS in SEATTLE, WA - Yelp. Link
- 12 Air Conditioning Facts and Statistics - House Grail. Link
- The 9 Coolest Restaurants in Seattle: Fun and Unique Places to Eat - Seattle Travel. Link
