Air conditioning is a technology that has revolutionized how people, animals and businesses live and operate, providing relief from hot and humid weather in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. Nowadays, almost all new construction, especially in those places, feature air conditioning. But, as with most technologies, this comfort comes with a price: the potential of contributing to global warming.
Evidence suggests that air conditioning use contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, and that this link is growing. The US Energy Information Administration claims that residential and commercial use of air conditioners, both window units and central air, was responsible for 7.9% of total US energy use in 2018. The same year, almost one quarter of all energy consumed in the United States was related to cooling, which was a record high.
The primary energy source for cooling is electricity, the majority of which is still generated by burning fossil fuels. Burning fuels release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, driving the climate crisis. Especially in hot countries, the demand for air conditioners is increasing steadily and this is easily noticeable – according to the US Department of Energy, electricity use for cooling grows the most in summer months and more so in the sunniest areas.
In addition to the environmental impact of air conditioning, consideration should also be given to its economic costs. Scientists from California’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that residential air conditioners cost roughly 13 cents per kilowatt hour, three times as much as other home appliances and four times more than space heating. The same data suggests, for instance, that for a small four-room house, cooling can account for over half of the building’s total energy costs.
In order to reduce the global warming impact of air conditioners, several initiatives have begun. Governments, businesses and organizations are actively working to improve air conditioner energy efficiency, retrofit existing buildings, and invest in alternative energy sources, such as solar power and geothermal energy.
An important factor in the quest to reduce heating and cooling’s carbon footprint is improved building design. Advances in architecture give designers the ability to utilise a building’s natural features, such as landscaping and efficient maintenance procedures, to optimise the interior conditions of buildings, thereby reducing their dependence on air conditioners.
Air conditioners may drive global warming, but modern technology and design have the potential to limit their environmental impact. With the right investments, coupled with improved building designs, much of the damage caused by air conditioning can be mitigated. Everyone can do their part by judiciously using cooling systems and investing in energy-efficient cooling technologies. Taking simple steps towards conserving energy could play an important role in turning the tide against global warming.
Evidence suggests that air conditioning use contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, and that this link is growing. The US Energy Information Administration claims that residential and commercial use of air conditioners, both window units and central air, was responsible for 7.9% of total US energy use in 2018. The same year, almost one quarter of all energy consumed in the United States was related to cooling, which was a record high.
The primary energy source for cooling is electricity, the majority of which is still generated by burning fossil fuels. Burning fuels release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, driving the climate crisis. Especially in hot countries, the demand for air conditioners is increasing steadily and this is easily noticeable – according to the US Department of Energy, electricity use for cooling grows the most in summer months and more so in the sunniest areas.
In addition to the environmental impact of air conditioning, consideration should also be given to its economic costs. Scientists from California’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that residential air conditioners cost roughly 13 cents per kilowatt hour, three times as much as other home appliances and four times more than space heating. The same data suggests, for instance, that for a small four-room house, cooling can account for over half of the building’s total energy costs.
In order to reduce the global warming impact of air conditioners, several initiatives have begun. Governments, businesses and organizations are actively working to improve air conditioner energy efficiency, retrofit existing buildings, and invest in alternative energy sources, such as solar power and geothermal energy.
An important factor in the quest to reduce heating and cooling’s carbon footprint is improved building design. Advances in architecture give designers the ability to utilise a building’s natural features, such as landscaping and efficient maintenance procedures, to optimise the interior conditions of buildings, thereby reducing their dependence on air conditioners.
Air conditioners may drive global warming, but modern technology and design have the potential to limit their environmental impact. With the right investments, coupled with improved building designs, much of the damage caused by air conditioning can be mitigated. Everyone can do their part by judiciously using cooling systems and investing in energy-efficient cooling technologies. Taking simple steps towards conserving energy could play an important role in turning the tide against global warming.