What Are Texas' New AC Initiatives & Who Benefits From Them?

The summer heat in Texas is no joke with temperatures reaching an average daily high of 98.3 degrees Fahrenheit. For summer 2025, some Harris County residents are in luck, because it has a local initiative to keep Texans cool during the seasonal heat. Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, Lesley Briones, and the community non-profit organization Precinct4Forward launched the Cool 4 the Summer Initiative. Briones' representation area, Precinct 4, consists of part of Houston and towns west of the city.

These days, it's expensive to replace an air conditioning unit, with prices in the thousands for a brand new one, so this program is an opportunity for those to stay cool and save a good amount of money. Aimed at local Harris County residents, the local Texas program is offering around 150 free portable air conditioners to residents who are senior citizens older than 60, considered low-income households, veterans, and people with disabilities. Each household is limited to receiving one air conditioner and applicants shouldn't have received a free AC from any similar programs.

Those interested in receiving an AC unit will need to put in an application right away, because they'll be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Harris County's local Cool 4 the Summer Initiative has already started taking applications, so you'll want to apply sooner than later. To apply, go to the initiative's website and find the button that says "Click Here to Apply." There, you'll fill out the application and hit the "Submit" button. It's unclear when the county will let folks know if they were accepted, but the initiative's site stated that once a household is approved, they will receive a designated pick-up center or spot to retrieve their free AC unit.

Before taking it home, recipients will have to fill out some forms. Once the new appliance is in your house, you'll need to decide where to put it — and there are spots where you shouldn't install an AC unit, like by a trash can or behind a couch. This isn't the only cooling program kicking off in the state. In May 2025, Entergy Texas also launched the CoolSaver initiative, which provides around $200 in AC unit tune-ups to make sure they're running efficiently in the summer for Southeast Texas residents in Cleveland and Huntsville. If you aren't able to make it to your local cooling station this summer, there are DIY air conditioners to cool your home you can try as well.