Keeping Cool: Air Conditioning Consumption in the Philippines

Southeast Asia is growing in every possible way. Addressing the electricity needs of the region’s urban households is particularly relevant where cooling is concerned. This paper is about how people go about keeping cool in Metro Manila, the Philippines, focused on air-conditioning in the home. It is part of a growing body of research in ‘sustainable consumption’, tackling the related themes of air-conditioning consumption patterns, practices and policies, as well as the potential for change. Research was conducted among three socio-economic groups: households based in low-income housing, the growing middle classes in new housing developments, and affluent households based in gated communities.

As a backdrop, the paper provides information on the environmental impact of household electricity consumption, in relation to economic and population growth. The history of cooling practices and air-conditioner manufacturing is also briefly discussed. The central theme of the paper is how current practices are tied up with air-conditioning consumption, from sleeping at night, to caring for a child, or dressing fashionably. The material dimension of air-conditioning is discussed, specifically in relation to ‘west is best’ housing trends in Metro Manila: certain housing styles may be locking in the need for artificially cooled air for years to come.

General trends in the region will no doubt contribute to an increase in air-conditioning consumption, yet current consumption patterns are not homogenous: how people go about keeping cool in Metro Manila varies greatly. This paper considers what the future might hold for keeping cool in one of the hottest regions of the world – hot, both in terms of economic development and temperature levels. The conclusion provides insights, which may be relevant to other mega-cities in the region.