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

🗞️ Driving the news: The increasing global demand for air conditioning, especially in emerging economies, is contributing significantly to global warming
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a substantial rise in AC ownership by 2050, with energy demand for cooling buildings possibly tripling

🔭 The context: Air conditioners exacerbate global warming through electricity consumption and the release of potent greenhouse gases from refrigerants
• Despite the push for more efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solutions, most consumers opt for cheaper, less efficient models

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The surge in air conditioning use represents a paradoxical cycle where attempts to mitigate heat contribute to global warming 
• This issue underscores the urgent need for renewable energy sources and more sustainable cooling technologies to break this cycle

⏭️ What's next: Innovations such as climate-friendly AC units using less harmful refrigerants, alternative cooling methods like barocaloric materials, and passive radiative cooling technologies offer hope 
• However, widespread adoption hinges on overcoming economic barriers and regulatory challenges

💬 One quote: "If the concept works out, such a device could also be used for heating purposes by repeatedly squashing the crystals and thus heating them," says Xavier Moya, leading the Barocal project at the University of Cambridge, on the potential of barocaloric cooling.

📈 One stat: ACs account for 16 percent of total electricity used in residential and commercial buildings globally, with demand for cooling systems growing twice as fast as for heating systems since the 2000s.

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