· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The use of air conditioning (AC) is increasing rapidly due to rising global temperatures
• By 2050, the number of AC units could nearly triple as climate change intensifies the need for cooling solutions
🔭 The context: Global temperatures are now approximately 1.2°C higher than pre-industrial levels, with projections to rise another degree by mid-century
• As heat becomes more intense, AC is shifting from a luxury to a necessity in many regions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Traditional AC systems which use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with global warming potential (GWP) 1,000 to 9,000 times higher than CO2 are highly energy-intensive and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change
• Traditional AC systems are responsible for around 1 gigaton of CO2 emissions annually, roughly 2% of the world’s total emissions
• Advancements in energy-efficient technologies like inverter technology, for example, adjust the cooling output to match the room's needs, using far less energy
• New refrigerants like HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins) have a global warming potential (GWP) that is up to 99% lower than traditional HFCs, making them far less harmful to the atmosphere
⏭️ What's next: To reduce the environmental harm of increased AC usage, innovations in efficiency and alternative cooling methods will be crucial in the coming decades
💬 One quote: "Air conditioning is on track to be one of the biggest drivers of energy demand," notes the report
📈 One stat: Widespread use of energy-efficient AC technology could prevent up to 100 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)
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