New tech can make air conditioning less harmful to the planet

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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