Phoenix, once known for its scorching temperatures, seems to have found relief with a high of only 108 degrees Fahrenheit. This comes after a grueling month-long heat wave where temperatures consistently surpassed 110 degrees. The toll of this extreme heat has been severe, with numerous cases of burn injuries, heat strokes, and collapsing saguaros. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients, reminiscent of the pandemic’s peak.
But why would anyone choose to live in Phoenix? Surprisingly, the city has become America’s fastest-growing metropolis, attracting hundreds of thousands of new residents. The answer lies in its appealing aspects, such as pleasant temperatures throughout most of the year, affordable housing options, and increasing economic opportunities. Over the past 80 years, Phoenix has transformed from a small desert outpost into a sprawling metropolitan area of over 5 million people, thanks to a series of innovations that have made the heat more manageable.
When I first arrived in Phoenix more than two decades ago, I witnessed the beauty of the sun rising over South Mountain Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the US. As the sun bathed the mountain in a golden glow, I marveled at the city’s charms. Beyond the summer months, Phoenix offers a high quality of life. Boosters of the city have long touted its attractiveness, with efforts to downplay the dangers of the climate dating back to before World War II. In fact, the phrase “But it’s a dry heat” has been ingrained in generations of newcomers, convincing them that Phoenix’s climate is more manageable than it appears.
While weather may not be the primary reason for moving to Phoenix, housing affordability certainly is. The city’s commitment to new housing development has kept prices significantly lower than those in neighboring California, luring many emigrants who have been priced out of the Golden State. Subdivisions have sprung up rapidly, transforming former farm fields into thriving communities. The speed of construction sometimes leads to confusion, with new subdivisions causing residents to wonder about their locations. This rapid growth has resulted in the construction of approximately 250,000 homes since 2010.
Even during the summer, Phoenix’s harsh terrain can go unnoticed. Developers constantly struggle to secure water rights, relying on groundwater aquifers, water from the Colorado River, and purchases from local farmers. Air conditioning is a vital part of life in Phoenix, just as the subway system is in New York. In the 1960s, a Phoenix banker described his daily routine in a world filled with air-conditioned spaces. This reliance on artificial cooling allows residents who work indoors, like myself, to forget about the heat during the day. However, stepping outside into parking lots or concrete plazas serves as a stark reminder of the summer temperatures. In response, residents utilize remote car starters to cool their vehicles and adjust their activity schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Unfortunately, this indoor lifestyle comes with a cost. Electricity consumption in Phoenix has skyrocketed, doubling since 1970. Coal-fired power plants, once prominent in the region, emitted massive amounts of carbon. Although most of these plants have been retired, Phoenix still heavily relies on natural gas, which contributes to carbon emissions. This exacerbates the very heat residents are trying to escape. While air conditioning protects most people, vulnerable populations like elderly women living alone and the unhoused suffer immensely. Many indoor heat-related deaths involve elderly women without adequate air conditioning, while the unhoused population experiences extreme suffering and mortality rates increase.
Although this heat wave will eventually pass, there will always be another one. However, these horrifying stories of life in 115-degree temperatures won’t deter Phoenix’s explosive growth. The city currently has permits for 80,000 new homes, which will require more water, more air conditioning, and more energy. Phoenix’s situation is not unusual; it reflects a nationwide trend where nearly 90 percent of homes use air conditioning. Even clothing companies advertise “summer sweaters” to combat frosty office temperatures. Heat-related deaths are not limited to arid regions like Phoenix; even cities like Omaha, Seattle, and Boston experience the consequences. A 2020 study revealed that the Northeast had the highest rate of excess deaths due to heat.
So, why do people still choose to live in Phoenix? The question merely serves as a defense mechanism, an attempt to rationalize the decisions made by many Americans who move to warm climates for affordability reasons, disregard the source of their energy, and downplay the threats of climate change. Phoenix is simply a reflection of the norm, rather than an exception.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
