7 hours ago - Health
More than 4,000 Richmond-area households lack AC
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Roughly 4,100 households in the Richmond region lacked air conditioning in 2023, according to new census data.
Why it matters: It's about to be 95 degrees this weekend.
Zoom in: City households were far more likely to be without AC (central air or window units) than those in the surrounding counties.
- They also account for more than half of the region's occupied and AC-less homes.
- About 2.2% of city households (2,247) lacked air conditioning compared with less than 1% in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.
- That's lower than the national average of 6.9%.
Meanwhile, statewide, there were 371 ER visits for heat-related illness last month — which is higher than the annual average at this time of year, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The bottom line: Offer your AC to your AC-less friend this weekend and check on your neighbors.
Read more tips here on how to cool off and stay safe