‘Absolutely disastrous’: Air conditioners take horror toll on the environment, campaigners warn

In case you’ve coped in a sweltering heatwave by blasting the air-con, you aren’t alone.

Because the planet heats up, extra individuals are turning to AC to remain cool.

However these energy-guzzling, chemical-leaking items take an enormous toll on the planet.

With the worldwide variety of air conditioners projected to triple by 2050, consultants warn that we urgently want to alter course.

Right here’s why – and the place in Europe is greatest for options.

How dangerous is air-con for the planet?

Air conditioners use extra electrical energy than some other equipment within the dwelling. Together with electrical followers, they devour 10 per cent of world electrical energy.

The common unit is only one third as environment friendly because it could possibly be, warns Sophie Geoghegan, a local weather campaigner on the Environmental Investigation Company, a London-based inexperienced NGO.

“These vitality guzzling items of kit are sometimes working for a lot of, many hours a day,” she says.

“While you have a look at industrial refrigeration, they’re all the time working.

“In line with the Worldwide Vitality Company, by 2050, followers and area cooling will devour as a lot electrical energy as all of China and India do right now.”

Sadly, vitality consumption is only one a part of the issue. AC items additionally leak hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (HFCs), gases with highly effective planet-warming properties.

Probably the most generally used refrigerant – R-410A – is a whopping 2,000 instances stronger than carbon dioxide.

These gases are the “elephant within the room,” Geoghegan warns.

“It’s terrifying. Given how many individuals are shopping for air conditioners, it could possibly be completely disastrous,” she says.

Which international locations in Europe are regulating air-con the perfect?

Some international locations in Europe have adopted measures to minimise their use.

Italy and Spain have imposed guidelines on how excessive the AC may be set in authorities buildings, together with faculties. In Italy, it will possibly’t be set decrease than 25 levels celsius. In Spain, the decrease restrict is 27 levels.

In France, authorities buildings can solely activate the air-con if the surface temperature exceeds 26 levels. The nation just lately banned air-conditioned retailers from conserving their doorways open.

In Switzerland, some cantons regulate the acquisition of air-con. Individuals in Geneva will need to have a ‘legitimate purpose’ to buy AC, reminiscent of sure well being situations.

Germany has green-procurement requirements for public contracts, requiring that ACs bought this manner meet sure environmental requirements.

Nations exterior of Europe have additionally campaigned in opposition to extra aircon utilization.

After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, vitality saving, or “setsuden”, turned a nationwide challenge for Japan.

The nationwide surroundings ministry estimated that elevating the temperature in your air-conditioning unit only one diploma resulted in about 13 per cent much less vitality consumption.

In flip, workplaces raised thermostats, urging workers to put on lighter garments in the summertime.

These are welcome initiatives – however they’re “child steps” says Geoghegan. Stronger motion is required.

What can we do in regards to the environmental impression of air-con?

The most effective answer is to design the place we dwell in order that we merely don’t want AC to chill us down..

Metropolis planning performs an enormous position on this. Maximising timber and inexperienced area, positioning buildings to maximise shade and air flow, and embracing water options are all vital steps.

Through the 2007 heatwave, French authorities arrange neighborhood cooling areas – air-conditioned areas the place individuals might collect – to cut back reliance on particular person air-con.

“A world the place each single particular person has an air-con unit is just not a sustainable world,” Geoghegan says.

Nonetheless, she recognises that some individuals do want air conditioners – notably the weak and people who dwell within the hottest elements of the world.

To deal with this demand, governments want to carry the trade to stricter regulatory requirements.

This begins by phasing out dangerous HFCs and changing them with extra environmentally pleasant refrigerants – like ammonia, CO2, and hydrocarbons reminiscent of propane.

The EU’s ‘F-gas Regulation’ goals to cut back F-gas emissions by two thirds of 2010 ranges by 2030. It’s at present up for debate.

“The HFC phasedown inside Europe is at present being revised by the EU,” Geoghegan says.

“Governments must be supporting a really bold revision of that laws.”

To assist shoppers select extra environmentally pleasant choices, the Environmental Investigation Company and Greenpeace have launched the Cool Applied sciences web site.

The database showcases best-in-class, HFC-free cooling know-how.

Governments ought to financially incentivise the acquisition of those applied sciences, mandate eco-labelling on items, and undertake minimal nationwide requirements.

“That is low-hanging fruit,” Geoghegan says.

“The know-how is there, we simply want a legislative push to get trade onboard.

“To people, I’d say – actually take into account in the event you really want an air conditioner. In case you do need to get one, it’s essential to do your homework.”