Cooling America’s Future: Five Pillars for Surviving Extreme Heat

Published September 22, 2025

As extreme heat events grow longer, hotter, and more frequent, Americans face unprecedented risks to health, safety, and energy security. To prepare for more extreme temperatures, what is needed is a resilient cooling strategy. According to the Federation of American Scientists’ report Too Hot Not to Handle, resilient cooling is an approach that works across three interdependent systems: buildings, communities, and the electric grid. Its purpose is to maintain safe indoor temperatures affordably during extreme heat events and reduce the risk of power outages.

1. Access and Affordability

The first pillar of resilient cooling is ensuring access and affordability. Millions of households, especially low-income renters and marginalized communities, remain without reliable cooling during periods of extreme heat. Policy solutions include expanding subsidies and rebates for efficient cooling technologies, providing targeted assistance to vulnerable populations, and developing inclusive financing models. For example, programs that deliver efficient heat pumps or modern air conditioning units to low-income households not only protect health but also reduce strain on emergency health services during heat waves.

2. Integrating Health into Cooling Policy

Cooling must be treated as a public health necessity rather than a luxury. The second pillar emphasizes integrating health into cooling policies. Local governments and agencies can incorporate cooling measures into public health codes, update emergency preparedness plans, and ensure that cooling centers are well-equipped and accessible. This integration reduces heat-related illnesses and fatalities, while fostering stronger community resilience. Public awareness campaigns, coupled with accessible communication strategies, can further safeguard communities during heat emergencies.

3. Sustainability and Innovation

The third pillar is sustainability, which requires rethinking conventional air conditioning. Passive cooling strategies, efficient building designs, and the adoption of low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants are vital. Scaling innovative technologies such as heat pumps, advanced ventilation systems, and thermal energy storage can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower operational costs. These strategies also support the broader climate goals of decarbonization and energy efficiency, aligning cooling infrastructure with long-term net-zero commitments.

4. Grid Resilience

Extreme heat places enormous stress on the electric grid, as traditional cooling systems drive peak electricity demand. The fourth pillar, grid resilience, addresses this challenge. By promoting demand response programs, distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, and behind-the-meter storage, cooling demand can be balanced with renewable energy supply. Smart thermostats, automated load management, and thermal storage systems are practical tools to prevent blackouts and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel peaker plants. Strengthening the resilience of the grid is critical to ensuring reliable cooling access during times of greatest need.

5. Workforce Development

The fifth pillar focuses on workforce development. Building a resilient cooling future requires a skilled workforce capable of designing, installing, and maintaining advanced cooling systems. Investments in training programs, apprenticeships, and certification pathways can ensure that technicians and builders are equipped for the transition. Beyond technical expertise, this pillar highlights the economic opportunity: a resilient cooling strategy could generate thousands of new jobs in clean energy, construction, and technology innovation, while boosting local economies.

Conclusion

Resilient cooling is no longer optional; it is essential for protecting public health, reducing inequality, and maintaining grid reliability in the face of climate change. By advancing the five policy pillars of access and affordability, health integration, sustainability, grid resilience, and workforce development, policymakers can prepare America for an increasingly hot future. Action taken today will determine not just how communities survive extreme heat, but how they thrive in the decades ahead.