Global Warming is no longer a topic for drawing-room discussions. Today 40% of the world’s population resides within the hot tropical regions and are exposed to life-threatening temperatures. Nearly 12,000 people die annually due to heatwaves. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, more than 255,000 people could be killed annually due to extreme heat. Cooling is not only important for the holistic well-being of people but in some cases, necessary for survival. Here, we shall learn more about the greenhouse effect causes and prevention techniques.
Greenhouse Effect Causes and Prevention Techniques:
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. Some of the Sun’s energy is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by water vapour and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and some CFC’s.
Along with this, burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing and contributes immensely to global warming.
Emissions Caused By Air Conditioners:
In order to tackle with this looming increase in global temperatures, comfort cooling has become critical. But, the impact of deploying ACs, is that they consume a lot of energy, and are the largest risk to our climate.
The direct or indirect emissions from room ACs alone could contribute to as much as a 0.5-degree Celsius increase in global warming by 2100.
India faces a daunting problem- how to provide cooling to its citizens without warming the planet. WEF Studies also suggest that the cost to the Indian economy due to extreme increase in temperatures would exceed USD 450 billion by 2030.
As the economy develops, more and more people will opt for ACs. Keeping this in mind, the government has launched the India Cooling Action Plan. This targets an increase in sustainable cooling for the population, while helping fight climate change. It also recognizes the significant role of new technologies such as thermal storage and district cooling.
The Way Forward
By 2038, the plan aims to imbibe the greenhouse prevention methods to reduce cooling demand by 25%, refrigerant demands by 25-30% and cooling energy requirements by up-to 40%.
These initiatives will accelerate progress towards clean and efficient cooling, and will instill faith that we can create a Clean, Green and Cool planet.
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