Life is tough in record heat in the South and Southwest US

As the South and Southwest experience record-breaking heat, many people are struggling without air conditioning, while others face pressure to pay their electricity bills.

Over the past few days, the Southwest and Southern United States have been hit by a severe heat wave, causing temperatures to skyrocket.

In Phoenix, Arizona, many people have had to endure 43 degrees Celsius heat without air conditioning, especially in low-income areas.

Cuộc sống khó khăn dưới cái nóng kỷ lục ở miền Nam và Tây Nam Mỹ

Mobile homes in Phoenix, which has been suffering from severe heat waves recently. (Source: AFP).

"If the temperature continues like this, many people will not be able to bear it," said Rosalia Licea, 37, a mother of five.

Ms. Licea lives in a 1950s-era mobile home. At the beginning of the heat wave, the air conditioning broke down. For two days in a row, the temperature in the vehicle rose to 36 degrees Celsius. One of her children complained of headaches.

Licea works a few low-paying jobs to make ends meet. She didn’t have the $2,000 to buy a new air conditioning system, so she spent $800 to fix the broken one. However, the system still has problems, and Licea will have to continue to repair it in the future.

A 2022 study by the University of Arizona found that although mobile homes make up 5% of all homes in the Maricopa County area, which includes Phoenix, they were linked to 30% of heat-related deaths in the city.

When there are no clouds in the sky combined with outdoor temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a home can feel as hot as an "oven" or "air fryer," says Jonathan Bean, co-director of the Energy Solutions Institute at the University of Arizona.

"The heat that Phoenix is experiencing right now is very dangerous, especially for people who don't have air conditioning or can't afford it," said Evan Mallen of the Georgia Institute of Technology's Urban Climate Lab.

For those who rely on air conditioning to get through the summer, they face another challenge: the electricity bill. Many are forced to use it sparingly, or endure the heat to avoid a spike in bills at the end of the month.

Camille Rabany, 29, decided to install air conditioning to help her and her 10-month-old baby cope with the Arizona heat wave. After much consideration, Rabany realized that 80 degrees Fahrenheit was the temperature she could live without air conditioning to save on electricity.

Emily Schmidt of Tempe, Arizona, also has to endure the heat to balance saving energy and making sure her home doesn't get too hot.

“With the relentless heat waves of late, I’ve been really worried about my electric bill,” Schmidt admits. “It’s been hard to budget for rent and other expenses.”

Source