NAHB Report: Air Conditioning and Heating Systems in New Homes

The home's HVAC system includes a UV bacteria killer, air filters, quiet zoning, air exchange control units, humidifiers, and zone controls. These systems help TNAH meet Building America and EarthCraft guidelines for energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

NAHB Eye on Housing's Carmel Ford shares a look at the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), which provides valuable information on the characteristics of new homes started, such as air conditioning and heating system installations.

According to the report, in 2017, 93.5% of new single-family homes started had a central AC system, the same share as in 2016. The trend, going back to 2000, shows a steady rise in the share of new homes with central AC, going from 85.5% in 2000 to 93.5 percent in both 2016 and 2017.

The share of new single-family homes started with central AC differs across the country’s 9 Census divisions. One hundred percent of homes started in the West South Central, East South Central, West North Central and South Atlantic divisions had central AC installed, followed by 91% in the East North Central and 87% in the Mountain division. The divisions with the lowest shares of new homes with central AC are New England (82%), the Middle Atlantic (81%), and the Pacific (75%).