Outer Space Could Revolutionize Air Conditioning
Demand for cooling is rising, but current technology uses chemicals that accelerate global warming. Two companies may have a solution.
Outer Space Could Revolutionize Air Conditioning. Video by Gloria Kurnik
Americans love their air conditioning—and the rest of the world is catching on fast. The International Energy Agency predicts that the number of cooling units will almost triple by 2050, with most of the growth coming in developing countries with hot climates.
As most people know, this is bad for the planet. Air conditioners use chemicals called refrigerants, potent greenhouse gases that can be several hundred times as damaging as carbon dioxide. These units also guzzle electricity—accounting for about 10 percent of all energy consumed globally. And that number is rising.
As global warming accelerates, demand for atmosphere-damaging air conditioners will increase, creating a potentially catastrophic cycle. With this in mind, inventors on opposite sides of the globe are scrambling for less-damaging ways to keep us cool.