U.S. cooling demand rises 12% in 2024

U.S. cooling demand last year jumped 12 percent compared to 2023, according to an analysis of the latest national weather data.  

The big picture: Nationwide cooling demand has been stable over the past five years, with the biggest yearly drop being in 2023 when cooling demand fell 10 percent from 2022. 

Details: The U.S. recorded 1,400 Cooling Degree Days (CDDs) from January to December 2024, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

• Catch up: CDDs measure cooling demand by subtracting 65 ℉ from a day’s average temperature.
• During the same period in 2023, the U.S. recorded 1,254 CDDs. 

Zoom in: The Pacific region — California, Oregon, and Washington — saw cooling demand rise 36 percent year-over-year, the biggest increase in the country. 

• Meanwhile, the “West North Central” region, spanning the Dakotas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska, saw cooling demand drop seven percent, the biggest regional decrease. 

Looking ahead: The Energy Information Administration, the country’s official energy stats agency, expects the trend to persist long term, with nationwide cooling demand rising 70 percent between now and 2050.