The focus today is on the impact of global warming on the need for air conditioning and the impact of more air conditioning on climate change. The article reviewed notes that most of the world’s future mega cities are already in tropical or near tropical areas where they are under significant pressure from growing population, increased heat and a growing desire for more air conditioning. Air conditioning adds to the rate of climate change directly through the coolants and indirectly through the additional electricity generated from carbon fuels to accommodate them. It is not enough to simply for office workers to put up with more heat as each (Celsius) degree of warmth drops productivity by 2%. Yet another reason to take action globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change in general.
Key Quotes:
“Nearly all of the world’s booming cities are in the tropics and will be home to an estimated one billion new consumers by 2025” “In 2007, only 11 percent of households in Brazil and 2 percent in India had air-conditioning, compared with 87 percent in the United States, which has a more temperate climate”
“Air-conditioners draw copious electricity, and deliver a double whammy in terms of climate change, since both the electricity they use and the coolants they contain result in planet-warming emissions” “health and productivity rise significantly if indoor temperature is cooled in hot weather. So cooling is not just about comfort”
“every degree rise in temperature above 25 Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) resulted in a 2 percent drop in productivity. Over the course of the day that meant they accomplished 30 minutes less work”
“the European Union was effectively forcing companies to use less cooling, by mandating that new buildings meet stricter energy-use standards. … for example, building with materials that do not absorb heat or pumping in cool air from deep underground”
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