cold-SNAP: Air conditioning that cools people and the planet
April 22, 2020
Part of the Wyss Institute’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day
By Lindsay Brownell
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Earth’s average temperature is rising – nine of the ten warmest years ever recorded in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s 140-year tracking history have occurred since 2005. Warmer temperatures bring with them greater demand for air conditioning, which requires immense amounts of energy. Every year, the United States consumes more electricity for cooling buildings than the entire continent of Africa consumes for