How climate change and population growth will transform cities' energy use

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🗞️ Driving the news: Researchers have found that the electricity used per square foot to cool buildings in U.S. cities will increase on average by nearly 14% for every degree of warming

🔭 The context: As global temperatures rise, the demand for energy to cool buildings in urban areas is expected to surge, leading to increased energy consumption and potential strain on power grids

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As cities expand and temperatures climb, the intricate relationship between urban energy consumption and climate change becomes pivotal
• Rising energy demands potentially intensifying climate change if not approached sustainably, creating a cycle that could increase the needs for climate change adaptation

⏭️ What's next: According to Chenghao Wang, who conducted the research under the Stanford University's Professor Rob Jackson; to plan for future climate conditions, it's essential to grasp how building energy consumption might shift due to extreme weather and growing cities

💬 One quote: “We’re locked in a vicious cycle where warming is turning air conditioning into a necessity rather than a luxury” (Rob Jackson)

📈 One stat: More extreme heat and bigger populations will dramatically change energy use in American cities by 2050, driving up the amount of electricity used to cool urban buildings per unit of floor area by at least 20% in some areas, according to the research

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