Air conditioning use on the rise across the province, according to B.C. Hydro

More households across B.C. are turning to air conditioners to beat the heat — and taking on higher energy bills in the process.

Air conditioner use has more than tripled over the last two decades, according to a new report from B.C. Hydro.

Last year, 34 per cent of homes across B.C. used air conditioning, compared to just 10 per cent in 2001.

"Hot and dry summers are becoming the norm here in the province," said Kevin Aquino, a B.C. Hydro spokesperson. "Over the past decade, we've noticed there's been more days where temperatures reach 30 degrees or more."

More homes in the Southern Interior use air conditioning than any other region in B.C. But the organization says usage is growing in the relatively moderate climate of south coastal B.C.

"We're seeing a lot of highrises being developed here in the Lower Mainland, and with these highrises, we're seeing a lot of glass walled windows, and that's preventing a lot of air flow," said Aquino.

Over the past three years, there's been a 23 per cent increase in air conditioning use across the Lower Mainland.

The cost of cool

Aquino says many customers are paying a pretty penny to stay cool. Running an air conditioner for nine hours per day through the summer is likely to cost users around $300. B.C. Hydro estimates that every degree lower an air conditioner is set can increase cooling costs by three per cent.

Conversely, running a fan for the same amount of time would only cost users $6.

Vendors in the Lower Mainland say customers are often looking for smaller and low-cost alternatives to AC units.

"[Air conditioners] are bigger... space is always an issue" said Charlie, a sales clerk at Magnet Home Hardware on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. "People are looking for other solutions, like swamp coolers and misting fans," he added.

B.C. Hydro says electricity demand is still higher in the winter, when many British Columbians flip on the heat.