Diego Garcia and his family have long endured the hot summers in their Montbello home without air conditioning, a struggle that has become increasingly challenging as Denver faces rising temperatures.
Built in the cooler climate of the 1970s, their home, like many others in the area, didn’t include modern cooling solutions, leaving the Garcias reliant on fans and open windows.
However, a recent pilot program launched by the city aims to alleviate this issue. Garcia was among the many families set to become beneficiaries of this initiative to install air conditioning in neighborhoods particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.
With the installation of a portable AC unit, Garcia looks forward to spending more quality time indoors with his children, focusing on learning and bonding.
“The idea is to enjoy with the kids, learning and teaching about our lifestyle,” he expressed, reflecting on his four years in the home.
Local nonprofits, supported by funding from the city, are taking action to install air conditioning units across Denver.
Carlos Herrera, chief program officer for Colorado Changemakers Collective, oversaw the installation at the Garcia residence. The process took just 30 minutes to complete, during which he also provided essential usage instructions.
Colorado Changemakers Collective is one of five nonprofits awarded mini-grants from the city specifically to enhance cooling across seven neighborhoods in Denver.
Herrera has witnessed profound emotional responses during the installations. One community member even shed tears of joy, overwhelmed by relief after enduring prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Statistics reveal that nearly 30 percent of Denver households currently lack cooling systems, underscoring the urgency of the city’s initiative.
Despite the city’s efforts to install hundreds of air conditioners for those in need, this program addresses only a fraction of the homes requiring immediate cooling solutions.
Predictions from city-employed climate scientists suggest that another hot summer is looming for Denver, mirroring a broader trend seen across the globe.
Historically, Denver’s summers were cooler, leading to many homes being built without air conditioning. However, recent years have witnessed a persistent increase in temperatures, with four of the five hottest summers on record occurring in the last five years.
In response to the escalating issue, the city held a series of “heat summits” last year to brainstorm strategies for mitigating rising temperatures.
Following these summits, various strategies were identified, with the air conditioning initiative being the first to launch, supported by a $250,000 fund.
In the coming months, crews are expected to install around 200 air conditioners and 575 air purifiers throughout the city, with an average installation cost of approximately $320 per unit.
The responsibility of identifying which households will benefit from these cooling improvements falls upon the nonprofits that were granted funding from the city.
Once the program concludes later this year, the city plans to evaluate its impact and determine the possibility of its continuation in the future.
However, potential obstacles loom as the city faces a significant $250 million budget deficit, which may lead to cuts in various programs, including community initiatives like this.
Jahan Taganova, from Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency, expressed hope for the program’s continuation but acknowledged the financial uncertainties.
Despite these financial challenges, the climate office may remain insulated from budget cuts thanks to a 0.25 percent sales tax increase approved by city voters in 2020, which generates about $40 million annually for climate-related projects.
As temperatures are projected to exceed 90 degrees later this week, families like the Garcias will be better prepared for the extreme heat. Still, many others in the city brace for yet another hot summer without adequate cooling solutions.
image source from：https://denverite.com/2025/06/10/denver-free-air-conditioning/
