Between now and 2050, worldwide installation of cooling appliances, like air conditioning, is projected to triple, resulting in a twofold increase in energy consumption. This reliance on such devices, often seen as exacerbating global warming, poses a paradox: how can we fight rising temperatures in cities while simultaneously contributing to them through our dependence on these solutions?
Using air conditioning extensively on scorching days not only strains the power grid but also contributes to raising a city’s temperature by around 2°C. This happens because the process expels hot air. Moreover, access to cooling technologies, whether at home, work, or school, is limited and varies depending on people’s financial circumstances.
