By Anitra Krishnan
Ah it is finally summer. The bees are buzzing, birds are chirping, plants start blooming, and the sun is constantly shining. Naturally, summer is the season where families spend most of their time outside, whether it be vacations, going on hikes, tourism, window shopping, or anything. But the one thing that makes these extremely enjoyable activities a living nightmare would be the scorching hot sun rays that beat down on you, cooking you to a crisp. It is especially worse now because of global warming. So once you are done with your chosen activity and return home, what do you do? Duh, blast the air conditioning so high that it starts to feel like an Arctic igloo. All I can say about this, is NO!
Blasting your air conditioning so high may feel good to you, but it does not do much good for the climate outside your home. Now, I am not saying that air conditioning should never be used, because if it is 90℃ outside, it is reasonable to turn on your air conditioning in your home to keep it at a reasonable temperature inside your house. But blasting your air conditioning even when it is just 70℃ outside? I think that is a bit much. Not just because it is a dumb thing to do, even though it kind of is, but because it imposes heavy consequences on the environment. Some of these consequences are irreversible.
Global Warming:
Air conditioners’ functions are based on a chemical called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This chemical contributes largely to global warming, and comes mostly from Air Conditioners. Even though HFCs are a small portion of greenhouse gas emissions, it does not mean that its effects are any less important than those of other gases such as Carbon dioxide. In fact, HFCs trap thousands of times more heat in the atmosphere than Carbon dioxide does. This is another reason why temperatures are so high during the summer. Much of the heat is a consequence of our actions: being overly dependent on air conditioning. So, HFC emissions are just as bad as CO2 emissions and should not be ignored.
Energy Wastage:
Air conditioners do not just promote global warming, but they are also huge energy suckers. They are responsible for about 6% of all the electricity produced in the United States. This is as an annual cost of approximately $29 billion to an average homeowner. See? Air conditioner over usage not only wastes tremendous amounts of energy, but also billions of dollars. And if you think this is bad, it gets so much worse. As a result of all this electrical energy wastage, roughly 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air each year. So, in addition to the HFC emissions, large amounts of CO2 are also emitted into the atmosphere which is also detrimental to the environment.
Pick the RIGHT SIZE:
This may not work for some people, since most houses come with thermostats, but it is a possible thing to consider for people who need to purchase an air conditioner separately from their house. It is important for you to buy an air conditioner that fits your window, or any location of choice, AS WELL AS the size of the room that it is in. The reason for this, is so that the air conditioner does not use too much energy in order to cool the air in the room. If the room is too large for the air conditioner, it is likely that the system will overwork and waste much more energy. Obviously, a central AC unit is worth investing in as it allows you to set your temperatures when you are away from home so the air conditioner is not overworked, right? Well, kind of, but that does not mean that there are issues with this kind of air conditioning either. Central air conditioning units use much more energy to cool your home. About 3,500 watts are used for central air versus 500 to 1,440 for a window unit. The best way is to monitor your usage, but also take note of the size of the space that needs air cooling.
Possible Solutions:
There is really no better solution than to use alternates for air conditioning.
Since humidity can actually cause much of the heat felt, a dehumidifier would be a great alternative option to an air conditioner.
On days that are not scorching hot, maybe try not to turn on your AC unit. Try using a few window fans to cool out the space and circulate air instead. Other fans cool down the temperature by circulating the air fast, speeding up your body’s natural process of cooling down. However, window fans can actually push colder air from outside your room inside to drop the temperature.
Keeping your blinds closed during the day can also make a big impact.
Even the light bulbs have an effect on how much heat is present within your household. Certain light bulbs give off more heat than others (incandescent light bulbs should be avoided greatly, even though they are not manufactured much anymore).
These possible solutions seem absolutely terrible since it takes time to actually notice the cooled down air. And yes, these processes may take more time than air conditioners, but it is for the greater good so do your best to deal with a little heat. Of course, if you have a medical condition which requires you to have the air conditioning on, DO NOT use an alternative method of air cooling!
That being said, it is not impossible to reduce the dependence on air conditioning, but it does take a lot of willpower. It will be extremely beneficial, however, as it lowers global warming and the heat outside your home, lessens the wastage of energy, CO2 emissions, and HFC emissions, and it is good for the economy since it saves money. So try it out, it is extremely beneficial.
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