The Conservative party has pledged to overturn the ban on air conditioning in new homes, a move that could add £500 to £1,500 to build costs and push up annual energy bills by £100–£200 per household. The announcement, reported by The Telegraph, targets the Future Homes Standard, which requires new builds to be ‘zero-carbon ready’ without fossil fuel heating. But the political logic masks a deeper question: does air con make sense for UK homes, or is it a comfort trap that undermines net-zero goals?
As The Telegraph reports, the proposal would scrap regulations that currently require new homes to avoid mechanical cooling. The aim is to give buyers more choice. Yet the UK’s building regulations already allow air con in existing homes, the ban only applies to new builds under the Future Homes Standard. Overturning it would mean new homes are less efficient from day one.
Who benefits, and who pays
Housebuilders welcome the flexibility. But the real cost lands on homeowners. A typical air conditioning unit for a 3-bed semi costs around £1,000 installed, according to industry estimates. Running it for 100 hours a year, plausible during heatwaves, adds roughly £50–£80 to electricity bills. If every new home installed air con, the cumulative annual electricity demand could rise by 150–200 GWh, enough to power 50,000 homes for a year. That’s a lot of carbon for a policy framed as ‘choice’.
What it means for EPC ratings
EPC ratings measure energy efficiency per square metre. Air conditioning units are rated A+ to G, but they still consume electricity. A standalone unit with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 6.0 might earn a B rating, but it adds to the home’s total energy use. Without solar panels or a heat pump to offset the load, the EPC score drops. The Energy Saving Trust notes that passive cooling, external shading, loft insulation, double glazing, can reduce overheating risk for a fraction of the cost, typically £200–£500 for blinds or reflective coatings, with zero running costs.
The catch: air con without insulation is wasted money
But here’s the rub: air con only works well if the building is airtight and well-insulated. Many new homes already meet high insulation standards under Part L of building regulations. Yet overheating is a growing problem, the UK had 15 heatwave days in 2022, up from 5 in 2010. Air con can fix the symptom, but not the cause. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) recommends passive measures first: shading, cross-ventilation, and thermal mass. Air con should be a last resort, not a default option.
What homeowners should do now
If you’re buying a new-build home, check whether the developer offers air con as an optional extra. If you already have it, consider pairing it with a heat pump, some models can reverse cycle to provide heating in winter, improving efficiency by up to 300% compared to electric resistance heaters. For most households, the cheapest and greenest move is to improve insulation and install solar PV. The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 towards a heat pump, which can also cool your home if specified correctly. Act before March 2027, when the current scheme ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly. Air conditioning adds to the home's total energy consumption, which can lower the EPC score unless offset by renewable generation like solar panels or a heat pump. The Energy Performance Certificate measures energy use per square metre, more electricity use means a worse rating.
No. Air conditioning costs £500–£1,500 to install and £50–£200 a year to run. Insulation upgrades, loft insulation (£300–£500), cavity wall insulation (£400–£700), or external shading (£200–£500), have lower upfront costs and zero running costs. The Energy Saving Trust says proper insulation can reduce cooling needs by up to 50%.
