The number of household air conditioners in Türkiye and the electricity they consume are expected to double over the next decade as rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves boost cooling demand, projections showed Monday.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said household air conditioner stock was estimated at around 11 million units as of the end of 2025, with projections indicating that figure will increase by 100% over the next 10 years.
As ownership rises, electricity consumption from residential air conditioners used for both heating and cooling is expected to climb from about 6,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2025 to more than 12,000 GWh by 2035, according to ministry experts.
The ministry said increasingly hot summers and more frequent heatwaves linked to climate change have led to a steady increase in air conditioner use in recent years.
Growing cooling demand has become an increasingly important driver of electricity consumption during the summer months, with heavy air conditioner use contributing to record daily power demand during periods of extreme heat.
Officials expect this trend to become more pronounced over the coming years as climate change intensifies and household air conditioner ownership becomes more widespread.
The ministry said one of the simplest ways to limit the impact of rising air conditioner use on electricity consumption is to set cooling systems at an appropriate temperature.
It recommends maintaining indoor temperatures at no lower than 24 degrees Celsius during the summer, saying the setting strikes a balance between comfort and energy efficiency.
According to the ministry's analysis, raising an air conditioner's temperature setting by 2 degrees Celsius can reduce electricity consumption and energy bills by up to 15%.
The ministry warned that setting air conditioners to unnecessarily low temperatures significantly increases electricity use, adding that efficient operation will become increasingly important as cooling demand continues to grow.
