Air Conditioning

As climate change ratchets up temperatures across the U.S., millions of the poorest Americans grapple with enduring perilous heat or paying costly air conditioning bills. Nationwide, around 30 million Americans struggle to afford their energy bills and qualify for the subsidy, but less than 3% receive federal assistance for their summer bills. Experts say it's woefully underfunded.

As summer temperatures continue to rise, more people are turning to air conditioning to cool down. But more factors than temperature alone are causing this heightened demand.