Posted on 07/19/2022 6:52:43 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
As climate change exacerbates heat waves, more and more people rely on energy-guzzling air conditioners to keep cool — a vicious cycle. Experts say passive cooling could alleviate some of the pressure.
Demand for space cooling is soaring
The climate crisis has made heat waves more likely and more intense around the world. Even in 2018, the use of air conditioners and electric fans made up 10% of global electricity consumption, according to the International Energy Agency.
And that although air conditioners were only widespread in a few countries like Japan and the United States — where more than 90% of households have them — and only available to 8% of people in the hottest parts of the world.
But as the summers get hotter demand for space cooling is soaring, especially in emerging economies. Electricity demand could more than triple by 2050, using as much energy as all of China and India today just to cool buildings.
To break out of this loop, scientists point to passive cooling strategies that control the temperature using little to no energy.
"Passive cooling is so promising because it's less expensive, it averts intensification of urban heat island effects, it increases survivability by diminishing reliance on air conditioning," said Alexandra Rempel, assistant professor of environmental design at University of Oregon in the US. "It also takes pressure off the electrical grid."
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
“Moving to Alaska would work”
Lived there for 12 years. While Winter there can prove a little challenging...the Summer can get really freaking hot in the interior.
Every day needs a humor piece.
Become a gopher and live under ground. Eventually that won’t work either.
This article is LIES, LIES, LIES.
Yep...when you have an area that is mostly stagnant air is when they work best or maybe a very light breeze that passes the evaporation-cooled air over the desired areas. Only problem is there is/can be significant water usage depending on the size of the area covered.
Europeans?!..have you seen the nuts in this country?
Then they built the levees.
What a bunch of hooey. I quit reading after the third sentence.
Creeks, ponds, lakes, swimming pools
My family didn’t have AC until I was about ten. We opened windows, had screen doors, ran fans to circulate air and blow the hot air outside, and wore light clothing. We had popsicles and watermelon and cold drinks. Trees provided welcome shade and places with lots of trees were noticeably cooler. In most ways I like AC better, and I am used to it now, but people adjust to what they have. As I have gotten older, I don’t need for it to be freezing inside. This year, after about seven months of cold weather, I am enjoying the heat.
I have an evaporative cooler on my roof. Keeps the house nice all summer and costs a fraction of central air.
when I went back to Germany in June, 1983 for my second overseas tour, they were in the midst of a heat wave, so it’s nothing new. You couldn’t find a fan in any of the stores, and it was so hot that beer consumption dropped (they don’t drink their beer cold).
Commercial use of fine mist cooling requires soft or RO water for equipment life, so it’s relatively expensive.
What is this “passive cooling”? You just THINK it is cooler & it works?? Climate change or not, there is still hot weather & some means of cooling off needs to be found.
My AC died last week. (It’s being replaced as I write this) The one thing I have noticed is my home was not constructed to be passively cooled. That’s probably the case with most homes built in America in the last 40 or so years. I have no problems with AC or passive cooling. In fact, may add some passive cooling features if it makes economic sense.
Cool!
I’m in Hamburg in business right now and it is damned hot. No A/C in the hotel. The key is to keep the blinds and drapes closed. Makes it bearable.
Modern buildings are the antithesis of this.
I did that one day in El Cajon. It was 116F outside. There was a 3D movie playing. The theater was cool and comfortable. Money well spent that afternoon.
Even as recently as the 80s they took long vacations in the summer to beat the heat.
Is “getting into your private jet and flying off to your mansion in the mountains of a colder climate” an option?
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