People want air-conditioning for a variety of reasons, but Bedfordshire-based installers Climate By Design are seeing demand from an unexpected source - multiple sclerosis sufferers.
"We are frequently asked to install systems to help customers experiencing hot flushes due to the menopause, but we hadn't been aware that MS can cause similar problems," said Climate By Design's Mick Blunden.
According to the MS Society, around half of people with MS report sensitivity to heat. Effects can include difficulties with balance, weakness, fatigue or changes to vision or sensation.
It is thought that raised temperatures can prevent nerve fibres from working properly, and when the fibres or their protective outer layer (myelin) have already been damaged by MS, they are much more sensitive to the effects of heat.
"It's very gratifying when customers contact us to say how much air-conditioning has improved their quality of life,"...