Air Conditioning Is a Critical Energy Issue

By 2030, space cooling - which includes air conditioning - is projected to require an additional 697 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This means it will account for 10 percent of the world's growth in electricity demand. For comparison, electric vehicles will account for 13 percent of global additional electricity needs, while heating will account for 7 percent. The IEA defines space cooling as any means of lowering indoor temperatures, including air conditioning.

Looking ahead, the IEA states that by 2035, air conditioners are expected to triple their electricity use, with higher energy needs than the highly-reported on data centers, according to a Reuters report. By 2050, around two-thirds of the world’s households will own an air conditioning unit.

While AC can significantly decrease the risk of heat deaths, such cooling systems still come with a catch: Most AC units are powered by electricity that, in many parts of the world, is still generated from fossil fuels, therefore contributing to the planet's warming.

The IEA states that investing in more energy-efficient AC units could cut future energy demand in half, reduce local air pollution and lower operating costs. Meanwhile, setting higher efficiency standards for cooling and greener building designs could reduce the need for new power plants and cut costs.