Cooling and Air Conditioning News
Are air conditioning units getting cheaper to run? Have the rules on installing a heat pump or air con changed, and which units are quietest for a bedroom? Which makers are launching new models or struggling?
Every cooling and air conditioning story we have reported, newest first: prices, running costs, rules, products and the companies behind them. Each one links to our cooling guides on what it means for you.
- July 2026
Online air conditioning installation requests rise more than 300% during heatwave
Online marketplaces reported air conditioning installation requests up by more than 300 per cent at the start of July 2026, as BESA warned about unqualified installation of refrigerant equipment.
- April 2026
Four million UK homes now use air conditioning as temperatures forecast to hit 26°C
Uswitch research puts UK air conditioning ownership above four million homes, double the level of three years ago, as temperatures reach 26°C and fans add millions to weekly running costs.
MCS reported progress towards implementing air-to-air heat pumps
MCS has set out competency rules and standards changes for certifying air-to-air heat pumps, with installers needing Level 3 refrigeration competence and certification bodies seeking UKAS accreditation.
- March 2026
Government publishes response to Approved Document O call for evidence
The Government has published its response to a call for evidence on Approved Document O, which covers overheating in homes, and announced a review of Part O alongside new building standards for England.
- June 2025
Mitsubishi Electric introduces the MSZ-RZ R290 residential air conditioning system
Mitsubishi Electric has announced the MSZ-RZ R290, a wall-mounted inverter heat pump for homes and small commercial spaces that runs on R290 refrigerant with a global warming potential of 3.
- May 2025
Panasonic launches Aquarea Home app with expanded compatibility
Panasonic has launched the Aquarea Home app for Android and iOS, adding room-by-room control and weekly scheduling across its Aquarea room products and heat pumps.
- April 2025
Study finds UK homes overheating has soared from 18% to 80%
A study published in April 2025 found the proportion of UK homes experiencing overheating rose from 18% in 2011 to 80%, with 4.5 million adults made unwell by heat at home.
- January 2025
Prohibition on single split air-conditioning systems with HFCs of GWP 750 or more
From 1 January 2025 single split air conditioning and heat pump systems holding less than 3kg of refrigerant with a global warming potential of 750 or more can no longer be placed on the market.
- November 2024
England planning rules updated to include heat pumps under permitted development
England's permitted development rules were changed in November 2024 to cover heat pumps, dropping the one metre rule and allowing units that provide cooling as well as heating.
HHIC releases updated condensate pipe guidance ahead of winter
The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council has issued updated guidance on condensate pipes, advising engineers and homeowners to insulate and correctly install them before winter.
- June 2024
BESA warns of safety risks from rising use of flammable refrigerant R290
BESA has published technical bulletin TB57 warning that R290 propane, now spreading through heat pumps and air conditioning, is highly flammable and sits outside UK F-Gas rules.
- May 2024
Opinium survey finds 4.5 million adults made unwell by home heat
Opinium polling released by energy efficiency campaigners found 4.5 million UK adults, 8 per cent of the population, were made unwell by heat in their own homes in the last 12 months.
- March 2024
Toshiba Carrier UK launches DAISEIKAI 10 air conditioner in the UK
Toshiba Carrier UK has launched the DAISEIKAI 10 air conditioner in the UK, a unit built with 43% recycled plastic components and a suite of air purification and sensing features.
- January 2024
Council of the European Union adopts revised F-gas regulation
The Council of the European Union adopted a revised F-gas regulation on 29 January 2024, phasing down fluorinated gases used in heat pumps, air conditioners, fridges and some medicines.
Daikin Multi+ system launched in the UK
Daikin's Multi+ system, which provides heating, cooling and hot water from one outdoor unit, reached the UK in 2024 after being available in Europe, according to a Daikin case study.
- June 2022
New Building Regulations parts F, L and O come into force
Revisions to Parts F and L and the new Part O of the Building Regulations took effect on 15 June 2022, cutting carbon emissions in new homes and non-domestic buildings and adding ventilation and overheating rules.
Changes to Approved Documents F and L take effect and new Approved Documents O and S introduced
Changes to Approved Documents F and L took effect on 15 June 2022, alongside two new documents covering overheating in homes and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Part L uplift and Part O came into effect
The 2021 uplift to Part L of the Building Regulations and the new Part O overheating requirement took effect on 15 June 2022, setting fabric and ventilation standards for new homes in England.
Guidance updated for Part L 2021 and Part O 2021
The Greater London Authority has updated its energy assessment guidance for planning applications, setting out how London Plan carbon targets apply now that Part L 2021 and Part O 2021 are in force.
- April 2022
Final impact assessment published for Wales Part L, Part F and Part O changes
The Welsh Government has published its final impact assessment for changes to Parts L, F and O of the Building Regulations for residential buildings in Wales.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandInsulation and Glazing
- January 2022
New Approved Document Part O on overheating introduced
The government's Approved Document Part O, covering overheating in new homes and buildings where people sleep overnight, has been introduced, with two routes to compliance and implications for apartment and communal heating schemes.