Colorado has more households without AC than most of the US

Between record temperatures and kids being sent home early from school, it’s easy to feel like summer is nowhere near over in Colorado.

That’s especially true in 311,539 households, the estimated number without air conditioning in the state according to a new analysis sponsored by Hard Rock Bet.

Colorado’s 13.4% of households without air conditioning is the 11th highest among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the analysis. Archuleta County, with 61.9% of households without it, has the highest percentage without AC.

The study was based on U.S. Census data on the number of estimated occupied households in each county and the estimated households with and without AC.

How can you keep cool without air conditioning?

Here are some tips from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and Ready.gov for how to stay safe and cool during extreme heat:

Open your windows at night and close them first thing in the morning. Make sure you still have a way to lock your screen. In a social media post from late May, Fort Collins Police Services recommended installing a blocking device to prevent an intruder from pushing through open windows and screen doors.
Close your blinds during the day. To insulate your home even more from the heat, install blackout curtains.
If you have a ceiling fan, make sure it is set to spin counterclockwise. That forces air to blow straight down and creates a cooler breeze.
Position fans strategically. While fans don’t actually cool the air, the circulation of air gives a cooling effect. You can also set up fans to draw cooler air from other parts of your house, like a crawl space or basement. You can also use box fans in windows to push hot air out of your home.
Place a bowl of ice behind or in front of a fan to get colder air blowing at you or circulating in your house.
Don’t use your oven. Turning on your oven heats up your house, so try using a grill, air fryer, crockpot or microwave if you need to cook.
Do chores at night. Some chores like laundry or running the dishwasher can create heat in your home.
Take a cool shower or bath and drink more water than you normally would.

Which Colorado counties most lack residential air conditioning?

These counties have the highest estimated percentages of households without air conditioning, according to the study.

Archuleta County, 61.9%
Costilla County, 61.5%
Conejos County, 60.8%
Dolores County. 60.5%
Saguache County, 60%
Ouray County, 57.6%
Custer County, 56.9%
Chaffee County, 56.2%
Montezuma County, 53.3%
Eagle County, 53.2%

What states lack residential air conditioning most?

As one might imagine, northern and coastal states are the most likely to lack air conditioning in homes. Here are the 10 states with the largest estimated percentages of homes without air conditioning.