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The August heat drove the price of air conditioners to record highs

Politiko 2024-09-10 10:37:07

The August heat drove the price of air conditioners to record highs

Climatic changes with extreme temperatures up to 40 degrees during the summer period are increasingly increasing the demand for air conditioners.

According to INSTAT data, the price of air conditioners increased by 7.7% in August compared to the same period a year ago.

While for the vast majority of consumer goods the price increase has been curbed during the month of August for air conditioners, not only there was a high increase, but a record was set (see the chart below).

Albania as a country with a Mediterranean climate with global warming is experiencing heat waves, which in the cities have become even more aggressive due to excessive concreting and lack of greenery.

Although construction is the main activity in the Albanian economy, in most cases it does not offer quality. Housing is still built behind heating and cooling systems and investing in air conditioning is seen as an emergency solution to cope with high temperatures.

The increase in air conditioner prices in August is related to high demand. The products are now also being used in the northern cities of the country, as heat waves have been hitting the same in recent years.

The mass installation and use of air conditioners put pressure on the country's power supply and put a strain on transmission lines.

Also, in addition to the purchase of equipment, families are increasing expenses year after year for energy bills to ensure cooling in the summer.

A World Bank study this year showed that in the big Albanian cities, Tirana, Durrës and Fier, temperatures are 7 degrees higher due to the lack of greenery. Air pollution and intensive construction make the temperatures in big cities much higher than the real ones, further affecting the demand for equipment that ensures the cooling of the premises.

Climatic changes and especially high temperatures are creating an additional cost in the entire economy as a whole. But the most obvious effects are in agricultural production and quality of life. Many agricultural crops year after year fail to produce from the high temperatures of the summer season.

International financial institutions have announced that the impact of the climate on the economy will increase year after year if countries do not take measures to mitigate its effects. Albania risks floods, landslides and fires during the summer due to these changes./Monitor

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