Air conditioning units are deceptive contributors to the climate crisis. Temperatures are changing worldwide, altering household behaviors. Many have increased the amount they use these devices multifold as thermostat numbers creep to extremes. How and why is this happening, and what can you do?
Increased Electricity Demand and Generation
Air conditioning is responsible for 3% of global emissions. Although this number appears low, AC units will exponentially increase by 2050, from 1.93 billion in 2020 to 5.58 billion. The impact of space cooling will only worsen, presenting peak load challenges and grid infrastructure strains.
New installations create greater electricity demand and put pressure on energy and fuel resources like coal and natural gas. This exacerbates global warming and other side effects of climate change. Power plants ramp up operations to provide electricity to buildings, emitting more carbon emissions. Worldwide temperatures escalate as machinery creates pollutants, forcing households and commercial buildings to rely more on equipment.
The negative feedback loop amplifies warming. The adverse effects, such as habitat destruction and wildlife displacement, disproportionately affect lower-income nations. Meanwhile, urbanizing geographies receive reliable, cool air, and other countries get hotter without relief. Everyone deals with health issues, like heat strokes, and economic effects, like higher utility bills.
Continuous use makes HVAC systems work harder, accumulating more duct debris and causing early failures if poorly maintained. Eventually, global energy-efficiency disparities become pronounced. Tech-driven, higher-income regions consume less with modern units, and others use additional resources to compensate for older models.
Refrigerant Emissions
Refrigerants have been contentious for decades, resulting in several government bans. They release potent greenhouse gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — the temporary replacement for ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons. States like Washington will prohibit AC unit sales because they are thousands of times worse than carbon dioxide. Even the tiniest leak can lead to permanent damage
International efforts like the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol attempt to establish legally binding accountability. It enforces a reduction in HFC consumption while offering alternatives for better life cycle emissions in AC equipment.
Worsening Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effects
Research suggests that rejected waste heat pushed outdoors by HVACs enhances the UHI effect. Models prove the accumulated warmth makes dense urban environments hotter, causing several changes in human behavior.
It discourages interactivity with the outdoors, with many citing thermal discomfort. For every degree Celsius the average temperature rises, AC use goes up by 5%-10%, signaling a need for better cooling load management. Experts are experimenting with advanced technologies, like machine learning predictions and simulations, to discover new ways to manipulate temperatures in structures and make cities more comfortable to traverse.
Contractors may also start working with new building materials to mitigate the warming effects. These include dark-colored paints in chimneys and wood flooring for passive cooling that absorb and disperse solar radiation gradually. Integrating more landscaping is also a priority, as it supplements poor ventilation in most urban HVAC infrastructure. Green spaces are natural heat sinks, lowering reliance on AC in tightly packed buildings.
Mitigation Strategies for Energy Professionals
Energy experts are responsible for promoting more sustainable relationships with HVAC systems while encouraging the proliferation of energy-efficient technologies. Embracing modernization and smart cooling strategies can transform local infrastructure and grids.
Installing next-generation AC units is essential, but complementing techniques are just as critical. They include:
- Green or cool roofs
- Sensor-based HVAC monitoring
- Renewable energy implementation
- Passive heating and cooling methods
We must also advocate for policies and regulations that hold contractors, firms and other agencies accountable. They must prioritize sustainable development by discouraging refrigerants, embracing electrification and leveraging technological tools for better maintenance. Neglecting to participate in the buildout of these protocols will worsen the climate crisis and the impact HVAC systems cause worldwide.
Turning It Down
You should educate yourself on the dangers of overextending air conditioners. They release emissions that contribute to global warming and environmental damage for the sake of internal comfort. Spreading awareness and adopting more sustainable habits is the best way for your community to mitigate the worst side effects of AC overuse.
About the author: Ellie Gabel is a science writer specialising in astronomy and environmental science and is the Associate Editor of Revolutionized.
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 