The heat waves They are not new. Starting from the tragic event of 2003 (which caused over 20,000 deaths in Europe, of which around 4,000 in Italy), public health has placed growing attention to this phenomenon. Since then, surveillance tools and increasingly structured alerts have been developed to prevent the health effects of the extreme heat, now amplified by climate change. In this sense, there are numerous appeals launched to create the necessary protection for the population, with particular attention to the weakest and fragile bands by age, pathologies or economic conditions.
Not for nothing the Italian company of hygiene, preventive medicine and public health (sites), in a period that has seen high alert levels in numerous cities and, unfortunately, several related deaths, has drawn attention to the importance of adopting effective prevention measures, Both individual and collective.
In this sense, the so -called microclimate parameters as temperature, ventilation and humidity. Obviously, the maintenance of optimal environmental conditions also passes through the use of air conditioners and humidifiers, a real salvation for the maintenance of a better (if not optimal) body temperature. And they must be used well, with the necessary maintenance, trying to exploit their benefits but without wanting to fall at too low temperatures.
However, there is another aspect that must not be underestimated. And it is that ofEconomic commitment linked to the dissemination of these devices, also in the home. How much can the spread of these equipment on the planet impact? And above all, how much could disparity also create in this sense on the economic and health front? A study that appeared on Journal of Environmental Economics and Management Try to give some answers in this sense.
What emerges
The research was conducted by an international team – including Enrica De Cian and Giacomo Falchetta del Cmcc and the Ca ‘Foscari Venice University, and Filippo Pavanello. And provides the first empirical evaluation on a global scale of‘impact of possession of air conditioners on domestic electrical consumptionanalyzing 25 countries representing 62% of the world population and 73% of global electrical consumption.
The investigation, as reported by a note by CMCC itself, reveals that the growing adoption of air conditioning as an adaptation strategy will do significantly increase electrical consumption residential all over the world, with important economic, environmental and equity implications. Think: first of all it must be said that the use of air conditioners increases home consumption on average by global electrical consumption. Then there are the forecasts: the diffusion of the air conditioners will pass from the current global average of 28% to 41-55% by 2050.
All, it should be remembered, with a Team of access to the unequal air conditioning between the various countries. For example, in the African nations there will be diffusion rates between 9% and 15%, well below the global average.
What happens to families
Again according to the study, the electrical consumption for cooling could reach 976-1393 TWH (Therawatt/Ora) per year in the residential sector, generating an additional 670-956 meters of CO₂ emissions, comparable to the annual emissions of large industrialized nations, such as Germany or Indonesia. Low income families in developing countries use up to 8% of their cooling budget, while high income ones spend only between 0.2% and 2.5% for use of air conditioning. The air conditioning has a Greater impact on residential electrical consumption Compared to other factors, including income, electricity prices and other appliances such as refrigerators and televisions.
“With the raising of temperatures, the demand for air conditioning to remain fresh is increasing among families and will make residential electrical consumption grow greatly globally, with economic implications such as energy poverty and environmental pollution”
Report in the CMCC Falchetta Foundation press release.
The risk of cooling poverty
On the energy front, the study reveals how the presence of air conditioners On average increases domestic electrical consumption by 36% globally. By 2050, the global demand for residential electricity for cooling could reach almost 1,400 TWH/year – comparable to the total electrical consumption of India in 2020 – with consequent additional CO₂ emissions between 670 and 956 meters and associated costs between 124 and 177 billion dollars.
But in some way, in the face of the climatic emergencies that are expected more and more frequent, it must be said that you risk creating a real Financial “burden” for low -income families. In fact, the research emerges the possibility that it is created “Cooling poverty”, linked to the insuritability of the financial weight of cooling for low -income families. The study reveals that while high -income families allocate between 0.2% and 2.5% of their expenses to the use of air conditioning, the poorest ones can reach up to 8% of their electricity budget intended for cooling.
“In developing countries, a significant part of families who adopt air conditioning will have low incomes and will have to face heavy expenditure charges to obtain an acceptable level of thermal comfort, feeding the spectrum of Cooling Poorsty”
observes Falchetta. The study shows that Cooling Poverty is An emerging indicator of energy poverty In a climate that heats up, hitting in particular the vulnerable populations in the development regions. Although the diffusion of air conditioning is destined to grow from the current global average of 28% to 41-55% by 2050, strong disparities will remain, with penetration rates in African countries lower than 15%.
