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0 pointsAlecSchueler8mo ago0 comments

The more people install air conditioning the more energy we use, warming up the world even more, requiring even more AC units to be activated.

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rjmunro8mo ago

In terms of energy supply, air conditioning works pretty well with solar power. Normally hot days and sunny days are very correlated.

If you are worried about the local heat generated by the air conditioners themselves, there are new coatings and panels that can radiate that heat directly to space, for example https://www.skycoolsystems.com/. Also just removing a few parking spaces and replacing them with green space can help at a city wide level.

AlecSchuelerOP8mo ago

Yep, in an ideal world solar makes it not so bad and we're transitioning there. But my country (the Netherlands) is still about 50% powered by dirty sources and the energy transition is happening too slowly to avert the climate crisis, so let's not wave it away with solar promises.

That's also only the operation of the things, their production and transport involves global chains of mining, shipping etc. and all the solar panels would be the same on top of that

ponector8mo ago

Energy used in private AC is very small fraction of total bill and has no meaningful effect on the climate.

Compare with data centers running entirely off grid, powered by tens of massive gas generators.

AlecSchuelerOP8mo ago

You're looking at the figures today, not the figures when every house in the country has to install it.

ponector8mo ago

Today residential use amounts of 15% energy used in USA, and 40% of electricity use.

In Florida, HVAC accounts to 40% of energy bill of the household.

40% of 15% is not that much, even if everyone is using AC.

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rjmunro8mo ago

In terms of energy supply, air conditioning works pretty well with solar power. Normally hot days and sunny days are very correlated.

AlecSchuelerOP8mo ago

That's also only the operation of the things, their production and transport involves global chains of mining, shipping etc. and all the solar panels would be the same on top of that

ponector8mo ago

Energy used in private AC is very small fraction of total bill and has no meaningful effect on the climate.

Compare with data centers running entirely off grid, powered by tens of massive gas generators.

AlecSchuelerOP8mo ago

You're looking at the figures today, not the figures when every house in the country has to install it.

ponector8mo ago

Today residential use amounts of 15% energy used in USA, and 40% of electricity use.

In Florida, HVAC accounts to 40% of energy bill of the household.

40% of 15% is not that much, even if everyone is using AC.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse