The global cities will need to accommodate 1 billion more people by 2025. Many of these cities are located in the warm climate zones, requiring air conditioning for people's health and productivity. For example, cooling is a craze in India. Yet, “
the cooling needs of Mumbai alone could be about a quarter of those of the entire United States.” That is quite alarming, since the electricity required for cooling as well as the coolants they contain increase greenhouse gas emissions.
“
Today’s humans probably need air-conditioning if they want to thrive and prosper. Yet if all those new city dwellers use air-conditioning the way Americans do, life could be one stuttering series of massive blackouts, accompanied by disastrous planet-warming emissions.”
Is there any way to avoid massive blackouts?
Reference: Rosenthal, Elisabeth, The Cost of Cool, The New York Times, August 18, 2012
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