An understanding of electricity consumption due to residential air conditioning (AC) may improve production and environmental impact strategy design. This article reports on a study of peak and seasonal electricity consumption for residential air conditioning in the region of Madrid, Spain. Consumption was assessed by simulating the operation of AC units at the outdoor summer temperature characteristics of central Spain. AC unit performance when operating under part load conditions in keeping with weather conditions was also studied to find cooling demand and energy efficiency. Likewise final electricity consumption was computed and used to calculate energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Cooling demand, when family holidays outside the region were factored into the calculations, came to 1.46 x 10(9) kWh. Associated seasonal electricity demand was 617 x 10(6) kWh and seasonal performance of AC units around 2.4. Electricity consumption in the whole region was observed to peak on 30 June 2008 at 5.44 x 10(6) kW, being the load attributable to residential AC 1.79 x 10(6) kW, resulting about 33% of the total peak consumption. The seasonal cost per household was about (sic)156 and the total equivalent warming impact was 572 x 10(3) t CO2. The method proposed can be adapted for use in other regions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.