DUBAI 29 October 2018: A survey commissioned by cooling and energy solutions provider Taqeef reveals that 66 per cent of UAE residents look for chiller free options when searching for a home to rent.
Only 10 per cent saying they do not. This was highest among families, with 62% of couples with children admitting AC bills were a top three factor in the decision-making process.
This comes following recent survey findings by the company which revealed 58% of respondents would use their AC less if they had to pay the full bill, despite 74% admitting that they are aware that using their AC excessively can have a negative impact on the environment.
When analysing the results further, the data revealed income and location play a factor:
People earning in the 30-35k salary bracket are most likely to look for options where AC bills are included in the rent – with 89% stating this as a key consideration. This is followed by 81% of those who earn 8-10k and 72% of those who earn 25-30k.
This compares to only a third (33%) of those who earn 45-50k per month who are the least likely to consider looking for options that pay the AC bill as part of the rent.
Most Conscious Residents
Sharjah residents are the most cost-conscious, with 70% stating that they would look for AC to be included, followed by Abu Dhabi (67%) and Dubai (64%) residents.
Tariq Al Ghussein, Taqeef Chairman and CEO, explains: “Given the harsh climate in the UAE, particularly in the summer months, residents rely on their AC units to keep their homes comfortable and humidity free. However, it’s important for us to be mindful of our AC use.”
The survey conducted by YouGov, was sent to a 1,000 candidates across the United Arab Emirates.