AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Editors' Highlight

Because of increased air conditioning needs, carbon emissions will increase as climate changes

Observed atmospheric CO₂ increases are expected to continue, leading to continued increases in near-surface air temperatures. As temperatures change, so too will the amount of energy required for heating and cooling buildings, with fossil fuel emissions increasing as a result. To study this, Hadley et al. (2006) melded the results of detailed climate and energy economics models, running simulations for the United States through year 2025 for a low (1.2°C) and a high (3.4°C) temperature response to CO₂ doubling. They found that energy for heating in the low temperature change scenario is relatively consistent in the end years of the simulation, but continues to decline in the high temperature change scenario, making projected net energy use in the latter actually slightly lower than the former by 2025. In northern regions, the net energy requirements are lower due to climate warming, but southern and western regions of the United States will experience increases in energy use as air conditioning needs increase with rising temperatures. As a whole, increases in carbon emissions from higher air conditioning needs more than offset decreases in carbon emissions from reduced heating needs.

View abstract

View full article (Subscription required)