I just read an article that spoke of the ever increasing use of Air Conditioning, especially in developing countries. This places a 3-fold burden on the environment. Globally, each Air Conditioner uses a refrigerant that when vented can result in an increased greenhouse effect. Regionally, the energy required to run these Air Conditioners places the burden on Power Plants; the same that burn fossil fuels and release tons of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. The additional CO2 output will hasten the greenhouse effect and drive temperatures up further. Here is the one that will cause debate... Locally and especially in urban settings, the heat generated by air conditioning equipment can drive up ambient temperatures. While the refrigeration cycle moves heat from one space to another, the compression cycle is not adiabatic. Meaning heat is generated within the compressor that is discharged with the cooling load out of the condenser. After 15 years of HVACR work, I have seen R22 be phased out, the departure of 10 SEER, and the introduction of a host of efficiency components. Short of a polar shift in how we view comfort cooling, where do you see air conditioning headed in 10, 20, 30 years? And maybe more difficult, where do you see commercial refrigeration in the same time frame? With tighter health codes regarding storage temperature and the cost to upgrade ancient walk-ins and reach-ins, is there a legitimate way to save energy in that field? Personally, I see a greater potential for efficiency gains in electric production. Both solar and wind technologies are in their industrial infancy, would it not be wiser to drive with that focus? Rather than burning rail cars full of coal? Finally... Have we reached a tipping point where climbing temperatures due to atmospheric conditions and parallel to the development of previously undeveloped countries has generated a cooling load that will only continue to raise temperatures and require even more cooling capacity?
[link] [comments]
No comments:
Post a Comment