In a Warming World, Air Conditioning Is a Necessary Evil. Or Is it?

As carbon emissions push Earth’s average temperature to new heights and usher in unprecedented heat waves, humanity’s reliance on air conditioning is growing. The trouble is, AC consumes massive amounts of energy and—due to the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels—emits lots of carbon.

Overcoming this feedback loop presents a significant engineering challenge that is becoming increasingly urgent as the world warms. Enter passive cooling: non-mechanical approaches to lowering indoor temperatures.

This certainly isn’t a new concept. Passive cooling relies on architectural techniques used for centuries in hotter regions, though scientists are advancing these methods with modern materials and technologies. Several have made impressive strides in recent years, but each strategy comes with its own benefits, tradeoffs, and limitations.

Read More: https://gizmodo.com/in-a-warming-world-air-conditioning-is-a-necessary-evil-or-is-it-2000793168