Recent UK heatwaves have driven a 320% increase in air conditioning installation requests, highlighting how rising temperatures are reshaping building management and energy use across the country. As warmer summers become more common, businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on cooling systems to protect employee wellbeing, maintain productivity and support business continuity.
However, greater reliance on air conditioning presents both operational and sustainability challenges. Increased cooling demand can significantly raise energy consumption, increase costs and place additional strain on electricity networks during peak periods.
The Growing Impact of Cooling Demand
Extreme weather events are becoming a significant business risk. Higher temperatures are forcing offices, warehouses, retail premises, healthcare facilities and data centres to run cooling systems more frequently and for longer periods. This can lead to increased energy expenditure and higher Scope 2 emissions.
Increasing air conditioning usage creates a difficult cycle. Hotter temperatures drive greater cooling demand, which in turn increases energy consumption and carbon emissions. The International Energy Agency predicts that around two-thirds of the world’s households could have air conditioning by 2050, making cooling efficiency a critical sustainability issue.
Climate Volatility and Business Resilience
The recent heatwave also reinforces that climate volatility is creating greater uncertainty around energy demand, operating costs and infrastructure resilience. Higher temperatures can also introduce health and safety challenges across different industries. Businesses that depend on cooling systems may experience increased exposure to energy price fluctuations and operational disruption during periods of extreme heat.
It is becoming increasingly clear; climate volatility is a challenge businesses need to address. Organisations should review their energy and asset management strategies to ensure they remain resilient to future climate-related risks.
Why TM44 Inspections Are More Important Than Ever
With more and more businesses investing in air conditioning systems, and these systems being forced to work harder during hotter weather, ensuring they operate efficiently has never been more important.
An air conditioning TM44 inspection is required for systems with a combined effective rated output above 12kW and must be completed every five years. These inspections assess system efficiency, controls, maintenance practices and opportunities to reduce energy waste.
A valid TM44 register entry and inspection report help organisations demonstrate compliance while identifying potential energy and cost savings. Regular TM44 surveys can also highlight issues that may otherwise go unnoticed, helping businesses maintain performance during periods of increased cooling demand.
Failure to comply with TM44 requirements can result in fines and missed opportunities to ensure the systems are working efficiency, particularly during bouts of severe weather.
By optimising cooling systems and implementing recommendations from TM44 inspections, organisations can improve resilience while reducing operating costs.
TM44 Compliance Support
To help organisations understand their obligations, you can read our practical TM44 Compliance Checklist covering inspection requirements, legal responsibilities, documentation and best practice guidance.
Written By: Tim Holman – Head of Consultancy, MSc, MEng, CEng, MEI
Tim leads TEAM Energy’s consultancy practice and has extensive experience supporting organisations through ESOS compliance, audits and regulatory review.