Garden City sees unprecedented demand for ACs amid rising heat

Chandra Prabhu | NT

Bengaluru: With the Garden City - Bengaluru - witnessing unusually high temperatures this year, residents are making a beeline for air conditioner (AC) and cooler shops with retailers claiming there is a 30 per cent jump in demand compared to last year.

The city recorded a high of 36.4 degree Celsius in March, the highest in five years, while in April, it went up to 37.2 degree Celsius, reportedly the third highest in 15 years.

“In my 12 years of selling home appliances, this is the first time demand for ACs has increased roughly by 30 per cent from last year,” said Ashok, salesman at a branch of a multinational company in BTM Layout.

“In my initial years, selling 10 ACs across the summer months was a big thing, but now, two months into summer, the sales have tripled,” he added.

Manjunath, manager at a hypermarket in Rajajinagar, admitted that they are unable to meet the demand.

“There’s a 50 per cent deficit in supply for ACs. We have seen a lot of families coming in to buy ACs and air coolers recently,” he said, while hinting at delayed deliveries.

“We’re trying our best to maintain supply of branded conditioners,” he added.

Ohers have resorted to increasing prices. Lokesh, salesperson in a home appliance store in Bannerghatta Road, felt the price may increase in the coming days.

“Although we have announced offers for festivals, the prices will go up as the demand rises,” he said.

A resident from Kengeri said he had bought his first air cooler recently.

“We purchased it keeping the elders in mind. Despite our garden having so many trees, the summer has shown us no mercy,” he added.

Kshitij Urs, for mer professor of climate change and public policy, explained the ‘vicious cycle’ of climate change and said that it had made people turn to ACs which is also likely to lead to a jump in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

“Poor planning of buildings has turned Bengaluru into a furnace,” he concluded.