For many Americans, extreme heat is showing up in higher electricity bills, disrupted sleep and changes to exercise and outdoor routines, according to a nationally representative survey conducted during what became the warmest meteorological summer on record for the contiguous United States.
The Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania surveyed 1,904 U.S. adults from August 4 to 17, 2026. Seventy-six percent said extreme outdoor heat had affected their daily activities at least sometimes during the previous year, while 38% reported that poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke had also affected their daily activities.
The survey coincided with an exceptionally warm summer. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the June–August average temperature across the contiguous United States reached 74.4 °F (23.6 °C), 3.0 °F (1.7 °C) above the 20th-century average. It was the warmest meteorological summer in the 132-year record, exceeding the previous records set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 °F (0.2 °C).
Against that backdrop, 65% of respondents said climate change is increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases and insect-borne diseases. That share was unchanged from August 2025 and statistically similar to the 67% recorded in July 2024, but significantly higher than the 58% measured in November 2023. Sixty-two percent also said U.S. heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense than in the past.
Extreme heat is affecting household routines and costs
For many respondents, the effects of extreme heat were closely tied to everyday routines and household expenses. Eighty-two percent said it had a major or minor impact on their electricity bills, while 75% reported an impact on outdoor activities. Fifty-six percent said heat affected their exercise routines, and the same proportion reported effects on sleep.
Both figures were up significantly from 50% in August 2025, while the share of respondents reporting an impact on pets rose from 37% to 45%.
Weather-related costs extended beyond electricity bills. Forty-six percent said storms, flooding, heat or wildfires had caused unexpected utility expenses during the previous year. Thirteen percent reported unexpected homeowner’s insurance premium expenses from those events, while 8% said they had faced unexpected health care expenses.
“Extreme heat is no longer just an occasional inconvenience,” said Ken Winneg, APPC’s managing director of survey research. “It is affecting Americans’ household budgets and daily routines, from electricity bills to simply going outside.”
Air quality was another concern. Sixty percent said their area had experienced days during the previous three months when local health authorities reported unhealthy air quality, up significantly from 48% in August 2025. Among those respondents, 82% said they stayed indoors more than usual in response to warnings, 51% closed their windows, 48% used air conditioning and 22% turned on a room air purifier.
Gaps remain in knowledge about heat risks
Despite widespread exposure to extreme heat, many respondents lacked information about available protection. Sixty-five percent said they did not know the location of a cooling center they could use during extreme heat. Only 35% knew where one was located, unchanged from August 2025.
Knowledge of heat-related illness also varied. Eighty-eight percent identified dizziness as a possible symptom and 83% recognized nausea, while 72% identified hot, red, dry or damp skin. Only 47% recognized cold, pale and clammy skin as another possible sign.
Awareness was lower when respondents were asked about pregnancy. Thirty-two percent knew that exposure to extreme heat can increase the likelihood of delivering a baby early, while 49% said they were unsure. The survey also found that 69% correctly identified adults aged 65 and older as the age group in which heat-related deaths are most common.
The results measure Americans’ reported experiences, knowledge and perceptions rather than individual medical outcomes. Interviews were conducted online and by telephone, and the data were weighted to represent the U.S. adult population. The margin of sampling error for the full sample was ±3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Together, the results show how extreme heat is becoming part of everyday life for many Americans, affecting household costs, daily routines and health decisions while leaving important gaps in knowledge about heat-related illness and available protections.
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) | University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Featured image credit: Mineragua Sparkling Water | Unsplash
