The increase in temperatures by the climate change is brewing a new “refrigeration crisis”, an emergency that will be marked in places with high levels of urbanization, hot and humid climates or with low resources but, above all, in countries that will not be able to make use of Air conditioning (AC).
Lifestyle changes, such as the decision to buy AC in response to warmer weather, they are primarily related to socio-economic and demographic issues.
According to the study “Air conditioning and adaptation to the refrigeration deficit in emerging economies”, between 64 million and 100 million homes in nations such as Brazil, India, Indonesia and Mexico will not be able to meet your needs ambient cooling and they will meet in a thermal unrest situation in 2040.
The investigation, led by Enrica De Cian, scientist at the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici foundation, highlights that the purchase rates of air conditioning will skyrocket over the next 20 years: 85% in Brazil, 61% in Indonesia and 69% in India.
However, as its use increases, it will have an impact on electricity consumption, which will triple in India and Indonesia and it will almost double in Brazil and Mexico. That is, the energy demand to power the appliances will result in additional CO2 emissions.
“It is not just climate change or wealth levels that are improving. Our results suggest that patterns of acquisition of AC they are determined by multiple factors, with different importance between countries, “explained De Cian.
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A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) foresees that the acquisition of air conditioning could triple around the world by the middle of the century, to the six billion.
The problem goes beyond the increase in devices, since demand will also increase at peak hours, when everyone turn on your air conditioner at the same time.
So now it will be due reinforce electrical systems to meet demand levels, which may occur only for a few hours or a few days.
For example, in Los Angeles County in the United States, rising temperatures combined with population growth could increase electricity demand during peak summer hours until 51% by 2060 in a high emissions scenario, according to an applied energy study in California.
BY SAYURI LÓPEZ
CAR
(Xanax)
