Short-term solution to India's hot summers worsening long-term problem
By CNA
Climate ChangeBusinessTechnology
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Key Concepts:
- Heatwaves in India
- Air conditioner (AC) demand and market growth
- Urban heat island effect
- Energy consumption and coal dependence
- Climate change feedback loop
- Sustainable building practices
1. Heatwaves and Vulnerability:
- India is bracing for a two-fold increase in heatwave days this year.
- 80% of India's population is vulnerable to the impact of heat waves, which are claiming more lives each year.
- Example: Sheetal Kumari's family in a New Delhi slum finds living inside unbearable during summer due to poorly ventilated homes.
2. Air Conditioner Demand and Market Growth:
- India is set to be the fastest-growing market for ACs globally.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects over 1 billion ACs in operation in India by 2050.
- Sheetal's family rents two ACs for $350 for 3 months, as buying one would cost double.
- AC usage leads to inflated power bills, straining limited finances.
3. ACs and the Urban Heat Island Effect:
- ACs contribute to the urban heat island effect by pushing hot air outside, making cities hotter than surrounding areas.
- Rakshit Kotan's Mumbai business, which supplies ACs to daily wage laborers and factory workers, is busier than ever.
4. Energy Consumption and Coal Dependence:
- Running ACs requires burning more coal, which accounts for 55% of India's national energy mix.
- During last year's heatwave, AC usage jumped by more than 10% from the previous year, according to Ember.
5. Climate Change Feedback Loop:
- Human-driven climate change leads to hotter days, increasing the need for cooling units powered by fossil fuels, creating a seemingly endless loop.
6. Sustainable Building Practices as a Solution:
- Adash Kapoor suggests reducing reliance on ACs by implementing building construction and maintenance techniques that prevent heat from entering buildings.
- Examples of such techniques include:
- Thicker walls
- Walls that reflect heat rather than retaining it
- Green roofs
- Lighter-colored walls to reflect sunlight
- These solutions are often not within reach for families like Sheetal's.
7. Conclusion:
- India faces a growing challenge with increasing heatwaves and reliance on ACs, which exacerbate climate change.
- Sustainable building practices offer a long-term solution, but are currently inaccessible to many vulnerable populations.
- For families like Sheetal's, ACs remain the only viable option for surviving the extreme heat, despite the financial and environmental costs.
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