The Cruel Irony Of Air Conditioning

Thanks to the University of Minnesota for sponsoring this video!
The technology we use to keep cool is heating the world in a vicious feedback cycle, so we need to improve it and use it less.
Thanks also to our Patreon patrons and our YouTube members.
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To learn more, start your googling with this keyword:
Refrigerant - a substance used in air conditioners & refrigerators for its ability to change phases and transfer heat
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If you liked this week’s video, you might also like:
How AC changed the world:
People use AC to make their homes feel like Africa:
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Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer & Video Narrator: Alex Reich
Video Illustrator: Arcadi Garcia Rius
Video Director: Julián Gustavo Gómez
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Kate Yoshida, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg, Sarah Berman
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder:
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References:
European Commission. Climate-friendly alternatives to HFCs. Accessed May 2019.
Gunawardena, K. R., et al. 2017. Utilising green and bluespace to mitigate urban heat island intensity. Science of the Total Environment, 584, 1040-1055.
Graves, R. Pers. comm. May 2019.
International Energy Agency. 2017. Space cooling: More access, more comfort, less energy.
International Energy Agency. 2018. The Future of Cooling: Opportunities for energy- efficient air conditioning.
International Institute of Refrigeration. Nov 2017. The impact of the refrigeration sector on climate change.
Keeler, B. L., et al. 2019. Social-ecological and technological factors moderate the value of urban nature. Nature Sustainability, 2(1), 29.
Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 2016. Recovery, Recycling & Destruction of CFC, HCFC, & HFC.
Pakbaznia, E., & Pedram, M. 2009. Minimizing data center cooling and server power costs. In Proceedings of the 2009 ACM/IEEE international symposium on Low power electronics and design (pp. 145-150).
Reardon, C. & Clarke, R. 2013. Passive cooling. Australian Government: Your Home.
Sachar, S., et al. 2018. Solving the Global Cooling Challenge: How to Counter the Climate Threat from Room Air Conditioners. Rocky Mountain Institute. www.rmi.org/insight/solving_the_global_cooling_challenge
Sadineni, S. B., et al. 2011. Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 15(8), 3617-3631.
Sivak, M. 2013. Air conditioning versus heating: climate control is more energy demanding in Minneapolis than in Miami. ERL, 8(1), 014050.
Zhang, X., & Caldeira, K. 2015. Time scales and ratios of climate forcing due to thermal versus carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. GRL, 42(11), 4548-4555.
Zhao, L., et al. 2015. Reduction of potential greenhouse gas emissions of room air-conditioner refrigerants: a life cycle carbon footprint analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 100, 262-268.