The Future of Air Conditioning & its Impact on the Planet.

1. The Future of Air Conditioning & its Impact
on the Planet
The Future of Air Conditioning
Air conditioning places a significant burden on energysystems. Energydemand and greenhouse gas
emissions from air conditioners are projected to accelerate to unprecedentedlevels in the coming
decades(the number of air conditioners worldwide is set to increase from 900 million units at
present to over 2.5 billion units by 2050).
Improving by 30% the average efficiencyof air conditioners in use globally by 2030 could reduce
emissions by up to 25 billion metric tons of CO2 over the lifetime of the equipment and reduce peak
electricity demand by as muchas 340-790 gigawatts. This is equal to erasing the annual emissions
from 1,550 coal-fired power plants.
Air conditioners are no longer just a luxury for the wealthy citizens of the world — they are
becoming a necessity.Staying cool and comfortable is just about impossible unless you own one of
these devices.Health benefits,improved productivity and reducedmortality are among the absolute
and undeniable benefits of modern cooling and air conditioning.
There are a couple of verypromising technological solutions to the standard air conditioner - DEVap
and Solar Air Conditioners. Both of these technologies show promise for reducingthe cost to run
your air conditioner, though the initial cost to purchase one, may remain the same.
The EnvironmentalImpact of Air Conditioning
While the benefits of air conditioning for basic, everydayliving are welcomed during the hot and
muggy seasons, the hazardous environmental effectsdue to their use needto be considered as well:
Air Conditionersare Everywhere
Whether you are walking down the street in a crowded city or driving through a suburban
neighborhood, heating and cooling systems are everywhere.Theyhave become cheaperfor
companies to make, so households evenin developing countries are beginning to use this source of

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comfort. So many people have become accustomedto their presence that they cannot see
themselves living without one,which is causing rising in temperatures and extremelyhumid climates
in many parts of the world.
Air-conditioner are causingglobal warming.
HFCs represent a small portion of total greenhouse gas emissions, but they trap thousands of times
as muchheat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Some HFCs are releasedduring the manufacturing process, if your air-conditioner or refrigerator has
a leak, or when you throw a unit away, possibly causing some molecules to escape,especially if it’s
disposed of improperly
4.3-C Temperature Jump from Climate Change By 2100.
Air-conditioner technology has come a long way since Willis Carrier invented the modern air-
conditioner in 1902 using ice and fans. In 1980, an individual room air-conditioning unit used
1,474 kWh per year and cost $178 to run, according to figures by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Today, an EPA "Energy Star"-certified room a/c uses only 597 kWh/year and
costs $75 to run.
But while units use less energy, we're using more of them. In fact, the amount of electricity
burned per air-conditioned household increased 38 percent since 1990.
Conclusion
The impact of air conditioning on the environment is obviously a very serious issue. We must
address it now to avoid further damage. The rising and sometimes deadly temperatures make
living without a cooling system very difficult and uncomfortable, and living without one is
simply out of the question for many people in certain areas of the world. Regulations regarding
the output of air conditioners must continue moving forward. Researchers must also develop
substitutes for coolants until they are as environmentally friendly as possible.
Heating and cooling technicians will also need to stay up to date on the latest regulations, as well
as continue their education as new systems are developed. Overall, innovation must continue
before further damage from air conditioners causes an irreversibly drastic impact on the future of
the planet.