Wyoming Ranks Very Low In National AC Use

I grew up in Florida, where air conditioning is essential in the summer. Not just for the heat, but the humidity.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, nationwide, nearly 90% of U.S. households use air conditioning, but those numbers vary significantly by location.

Wyoming ranks 45th in the nation for air conditioning, with roughly 71% to 79% of households having an air conditioning unit. Because of the state's mild summers and high elevation, AC usage is among the lowest in the U.S., sitting well below the national average of nearly 90%.

Highest Percentage of A/C per Household
Florida: 99.50%
Delaware: 99.49%
Oklahoma: 99.49%
Alabama: 99.20%
Louisiana: 99.10%
Nebraska: 99.10%

Lowest Percentage of A/C per Household
Alaska: 7.01%
Hawaii: 56.57%
Washington: 65.79%
Montana: 72.99%
Vermont: 72.79%
Maine: 81.71%

The high altitude and dry continental climate mean many residents only experience a few weeks of peak summer heat, making an HVAC system an optional luxury rather than an absolute necessity.

That Wyoming wind, along with drier air, makes everything feel much cooler even on the hottest days.

Currently, I live in a 106-year-old house in Wyoming that does not have any AC. It doesn't need it. Even on the hottest days, the cellar, which I spend a lot of time in as a second part of the house, is quite cool. Unlike modern homes, many older construction techniques kept dwellings rather comfortable year-round without any AC.

Older homes, particularly those built before the 1940s, were designed with a "toolbox" of architectural features to maximize cooling without electricity, such as high ceilings, thick walls, and expansive porches. Before air conditioning became common in the 1960s, these structures relied on natural ventilation and shading to keep interior temperatures comfortable.