As temperatures rise, air conditioner usage also increases. The increased air conditioner use requires more energy, which in turn results in greater emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions have led to an increase in Earth’s temperature, approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit in the last century. Warming is projected to continue into the future.
To cope with the warmer temperatures, air conditioner use is also expected to continue rising, still relying on burning the very energy sources that are at the root of the problem. Researchers believe this will be especially true in southern and western parts of the United States. In northern parts of the country, the warmer temperatures may cause a reduction in energy use, as winter heating requirements will be lower.
One potential way to offset the emissions from increased energy demand due to warmer tempeatures is to explore renewable energy resources.
Energy Group
