London office workers increasingly demand air conditioning amid record heatwaves. Robert Irving Burns data shows 80% of City of London offices have AC, versus 61% in Westminster. Antony Antoniou of the consultancy notes retrofitting AC in older buildings is costly and complex. Harry Mills, a business executive, now requires AC in his new City office after suffering heat in a non-cooled Battersea flat. The UK’s hottest summer on record has made AC a deal-breaker for tenants. Deloitte and KPMG have fixed AC settings to reduce energy use. Companies like Hogan Lovells Cadwalader canceled events due to overheating. Capgemini and BDO are upgrading systems for efficiency. Sustainability concerns arise from refrigerants worsening global warming. Singapore’s cooling strategies are cited as a model. Supply constraints and heatwave demands are polarizing the market between cooled and non-cooled spaces.

The City of London’s high AC adoption contrasts with older areas like Westminster. Antony Antoniou highlights planning restrictions and space limitations as retrofitting hurdles. Harry Mills’ experience underscores AC’s shift from luxury to necessity. A You Gov poll shows 79% support for workplace temperature limits. The Met Office confirms this summer as the hottest by mean temperature. Climate Change Committee urges government action on maximum workplace temperatures.

Malfunctioning AC systems exacerbate issues. Keble College’s H B Allen Centre accidentally activated heaters during a heatwave. Capgemini’s 2023 report and BDO’s 2022 upgrades reflect industry shifts. Passive cooling and comfort cooling options are being explored. Air conditioning contributes to urban heat islands and refrigerant emissions, though phased-out under the 2016 Kigali accord. Lily Riahi of the UN Environment Programme emphasizes sustainable urban design.

The article links rising AC demand to climate change and business needs. Companies face balancing cooling with energy efficiency. London’s market struggles with limited high-quality AC-equipped spaces. The trend signals a permanent shift in office requirements.