Earlier this month, as a historic heat dome smothered the U.S. Midwest and Atlantic Coast, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the city’s severely strained grid. “Let's ease demand — and get through the heat — together,” he posted on X…
Plug-in batteries kept NYC renters cool during record heat wave
Brief
Plug-in batteries kept NYC renters cool during a record heat dome in July 2026, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked residents via X to set air conditioners to 78°F to reduce stress on the city’s strained grid. According to Canary Media (Maria Gallucci, 2026-07-13), renters used portable, plug-in battery systems to power window and portable AC units during peak demand, helping maintain indoor temperatures and lessen the risk of broader outages.
Why it matters
On July 2026, during a historic heat dome affecting the U.S. Midwest and Atlantic Coast, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents on X to set air conditioners to 78°F to ease severe grid strain.
Key details
- Canary Media reports (Maria Gallucci, 2026-07-13) that renters relied on plug-in batteries to keep cooling — allowing window and portable ACs to run during peak demand and helping avert wider outages.