The Economist writes about technologies to make air conditioning more environmentally friendly.
- Air conditioning use is expected to triple by 2050 due to rising global temperatures, which could significantly increase carbon emissions.
- New technologies are emerging to make A.C.s more efficient including Transaera, which is using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to dehumidify air more efficiently, potentially reducing energy use by 40%.
- Meanwhile, startups like Nostromo, whose “IceBricks” store cooling energy when electricity demand is low for use during peak times, are developing solutions to reduce the strain of A.C. on the grid.
“Blue Frontier, a company based in Florida, is attempting to harness the cooling effects of evaporating water. Its approach makes use of a liquid desiccant, similar to ultra-salty brine, to remove moisture. The dried air is then split into two streams, one of which is passed over a thin layer of water to induce evaporation. This lowers the temperature of the surrounding metal, which in turn cools the other airstream before it is directed back into the room.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
