Title: Alberta Residents Beat the Heat Wave Rush for Air Conditioning
As the scorching heat wave gripped Alberta in a relentless hold, residents across the province made a beeline for air conditioning solutions to escape the sweltering temperatures. Teseo Berardi, service manager at Weiss-Johnson, an Edmonton-based heating, cooling, and plumbing company, described the surge in demand as unprecedented. “The calls were fast and furious. Everyone was interested in air conditioning, with some eager to have it installed almost immediately,” Berardi shared.
Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that July marked the hottest month on record in several Alberta communities, including Edmonton, Calgary, High Level, and Grande Prairie. The heat wave started early in the month with soaring temperatures province-wide, only to return with a vengeance in mid-July. Edmonton saw highs exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days, while Medicine Hat endured temperatures above 30 degrees for 10 days straight, and Grande Prairie experienced record-breaking heat for eight days.
The relentless heat wave left residents struggling to find relief, with nighttime temperatures barely dropping to 20 degrees Celsius in Edmonton, hindering the chance for homes to cool down overnight. To make matters worse, wildfire smoke blowing in from nearby blazes further compounded the stifling conditions.
The spike in demand for air conditioning even led some residents to offer substantial premiums to expedite installation. Keith Norton, service manager at JDK Heating & Cooling, recounted encountering desperate situations where some households reached scorching temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius without any cooling relief. Norton highlighted that the urgency for air conditioning was driven by various factors, including health concerns and the expectation of prolonged heat waves becoming the new norm.
While historically uncommon in Alberta, home air conditioning is gradually becoming more prevalent, with 37% of households now equipped with some form of cooling system, up from 26% in 2013. The surge in air conditioning usage also contributed to setting new summer electricity consumption records in the province, stressing the need for sustainable energy solutions.
As the province grapples with rising energy demands and changing climatic conditions, experts like Sara Hastings-Simon emphasize the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and adopting innovative strategies to manage peak electricity loads. Amidst these challenges, HVAC service managers noted that the rapid urban development trend in Alberta has led to homes being built with features that make it harder to stay cool without air conditioning.
Despite the overwhelming demand, HVAC companies are working tirelessly to meet requests,
As the scorching heat wave gripped Alberta in a relentless hold, residents across the province made a beeline for air conditioning solutions to escape the sweltering temperatures. Teseo Berardi, service manager at Weiss-Johnson, an Edmonton-based heating, cooling, and plumbing company, described the surge in demand as unprecedented. “The calls were fast and furious. Everyone was interested in air conditioning, with some eager to have it installed almost immediately,” Berardi shared.
Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that July marked the hottest month on record in several Alberta communities, including Edmonton, Calgary, High Level, and Grande Prairie. The heat wave started early in the month with soaring temperatures province-wide, only to return with a vengeance in mid-July. Edmonton saw highs exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days, while Medicine Hat endured temperatures above 30 degrees for 10 days straight, and Grande Prairie experienced record-breaking heat for eight days.
The relentless heat wave left residents struggling to find relief, with nighttime temperatures barely dropping to 20 degrees Celsius in Edmonton, hindering the chance for homes to cool down overnight. To make matters worse, wildfire smoke blowing in from nearby blazes further compounded the stifling conditions.
The spike in demand for air conditioning even led some residents to offer substantial premiums to expedite installation. Keith Norton, service manager at JDK Heating & Cooling, recounted encountering desperate situations where some households reached scorching temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius without any cooling relief. Norton highlighted that the urgency for air conditioning was driven by various factors, including health concerns and the expectation of prolonged heat waves becoming the new norm.
While historically uncommon in Alberta, home air conditioning is gradually becoming more prevalent, with 37% of households now equipped with some form of cooling system, up from 26% in 2013. The surge in air conditioning usage also contributed to setting new summer electricity consumption records in the province, stressing the need for sustainable energy solutions.
As the province grapples with rising energy demands and changing climatic conditions, experts like Sara Hastings-Simon emphasize the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and adopting innovative strategies to manage peak electricity loads. Amidst these challenges, HVAC service managers noted that the rapid urban development trend in Alberta has led to homes being built with features that make it harder to stay cool without air conditioning.
Despite the overwhelming demand, HVAC companies are working tirelessly to meet requests,
