How to build an AC that will get the world through hotter summers

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists and manufacturers are working to redesign air conditioners to tackle not just rising temperatures, but increasing humidity, a growing challenge due to climate change
• These new prototypes aim to be more energy-efficient and climate-friendly by prioritizing humidity control while minimizing emissions
• The demand for air conditioning is projected to surge, especially in countries like India, where billions of new units could be installed in coming decades

🔭 The context: Traditional AC units are primarily designed for temperature reduction, but in humid climates, overcooling is required to reduce humidity, leading to excessive energy use
• The new designs feature dual cooling coils and real-time humidity sensing to improve efficiency
• As ACs become more widespread in low- and middle-income countries, finding affordable, energy-efficient solutions is critical to preventing further environmental harm

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Air conditioning currently accounts for nearly 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that figure is expected to rise dramatically as demand grows
• Developing more efficient units is essential to reduce the environmental impact of cooling, which could help prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100

⏭️ What's next: Researchers and manufacturers are aiming to bring these advanced, affordable ACs to market within the next five years
• Governments and large-scale buyers could play a key role by adopting these models and setting new efficiency standards

💬 One quote: “With climate change, you are seeing not just increased events of higher temperatures around the world, but also starting to see higher humidity” - Ankit Kalanki, from RMI

📈 One stat: By 2050, the number of air conditioners globally is expected to triple, contributing to nearly 2 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions annually

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