Rising Temperatures Conundrum

On a hot summer day when the air feels thick and your clothes are sticky, AC can feel like the only escape from the heat. These suffocatingly hot summer days are becoming more common and dangerous as our planet continues to warm. Although air conditioners (AC) offer refuge from the heat, they also run on electricity generation that relies on fossil fuels and cause pollution through coolant leakage, which further contributes to global warming. However, we can take actions to reduce our carbon footprint when staying cool, hold our elected officials accountable to paying attention to the problem, and advocate for systemic change so that we move forward in a socially and environmentally just world.

Data shows that the global temperatures are rising and heat waves are intensifying: 2024 was the hottest year on record, featuring hotter, longer, and more frequent heat waves. This summer, states from Florida to Massachusetts experienced record high temperatures with more than 100 million Americans receiving extreme heat alerts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that heat waves like these are occurring more and more often with a current average of 6 heat waves per year in major cities, triple the average just 60 years ago. This increase in the Earth’s temperature calls for immediate attention.

While tornados and floods might receive the most coverage, extreme heat is named the deadliest form of extreme weather in the United States, causing more deaths than any other weather-related event. Children, the elderly, pregnant people, people taking medication or facing chronic illnesses, and those with mental health or substance use disorders are the populations most vulnerable to extreme heat. 

Additionally, heat strains energy grids and infrastructure. The demand for energy to power fans, air conditioning, and cooling systems surges, increasing the risk of fires and blackouts. This strain on energy grids during periods of extreme heat results in higher prices of electricity, making energy and keeping cool even less accessible to those that need it most.

The ability to cool down is a necessity during a heat wave, however, certain methods unintentionally exacerbate global warming. Air conditioning is the most commonly used cooling system globally, and as of 2020, 88% of US households have AC, where approximately 19% of electricity consumed in U.S. homes goes towards cooling. Since these units depend on electricity, 83% of which are from fossil fuels, they inevitably create a conundrum: fossil fuel based electricity powers energy generation by burning coal, natural gas, or petroleum (and emit greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide in the process, which cause global warming). Thus, a feedback loop plays out where temperatures increase causing people to use air conditioning, which uses electricity, which burns fossil fuels, which warms up the earth and increases temperatures. The more this cycle continues, the worse it will get. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire world will face hot weather all year long, but that weather events are going to get more severe, frequent, and last for longer. That being said, there is hope and ways to break the cycle.

Any change, big or small, can have an impact on your carbon footprint and make a difference in dealing with the warming world. We make decisions on individual and communal levels that influence how much pollution we emit and making the smarter choice for the planet is how we take steps to mitigate the effects of climate change. Although emissions as individuals account for only a small portion of greenhouse gases compared to large corporations, take into account what you can do to make a difference during these hot summer months:

Use your AC unit effectively and efficiently

Check out this article: The Most Efficient Way to Run Your AC During a Heat Wave. It gives advice on cleaning, maintaining, and running your AC so that you save energy, stay cool, and reduce your environmental impact.

Additionally, using technology like smart thermometers, outlet timers, or smart AC controllers can optimize energy use and help save on energy bills in the long run. Being able to set a fixed temperature allows for the best use of your AC system. These tools can create a schedule for cooling or turn of AC units when they are not necessary. Additionally, setting temperatures slightly higher can reduce your carbon footprint and save energy. 

Replace old AC units

AC units typically reach the end of their lifespan after 12-15 years and naturally need replacing. However, older models can still be designed to use the phased out refrigerant, R-22, otherwise known as Freon. This chemical compound is known to be harmful to the environment as it depletes the ozone layer, a protective layer in Earth’s atmosphere that blocks harmful UV rays. While it was officially banned from production in 2020, it is worth checking your AC unit and making the decision that is right for you and your planet. For more, read here.

New designs of AC units are more energy efficient and use refrigerants with significantly lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). Some are designed to utilize solar power in tandem with electricity, others have maximized their energy potential. While there are more sustainable alternatives to AC, newer models are more energy efficient and environmentally conscious compared to older models.

Consider more sustainable alternatives

Consider alternatives to AC units like fans or heat pumps. 

Fans may be less effective, however, in times when the heat is less extreme, they can be a useful alternative that is more energy and cost efficient.

Heat pumps are a system that uses passive cooling and heating to keep a house temperate. They utilize the same technologies as AC, however, while an AC can only pump heat in one direction, heat pumps can move heat in both directions: out of the building in the summer and into it in the winter. By capturing and moving existing heat, these systems are more efficient, minimize energy use, and have the dual purpose of also replacing furnaces in the winter. 

While heat pumps are a very effective solution, they require significant upfront investment that's simply not accessible to all families, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. If you are considering installing heat pumps, coaches can offer consulting on the best system for you and provide guidance on government subsidies and affording heat pumps. Though most charge for this service, there are organizations, like the HeatSmart Alliance, that gather volunteers to offer these services for free. Their work is important towards allowing for this technology to be more accessible and implemented.

The big takeaway

While individual actions can help break this cycle, many of the most effective solutions, like heat pumps and smart thermostats, require significant upfront investment that are simply not within the budget of most, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. Incentivising these technologies allows for more equitable access to purchasing these kinds of equipment and saving on energy bills.

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in the U.S. and enacted laws addressing climate change and other issues, while also strengthening American energy security and creating jobs. The IRA contributed almost $9 billion in rebates, or partial refunds, for home energy efficiency and appliance electrification. This bill offered tax credits, loans, and funds towards implementing these cleaner technologies and “prioritizing the needs of historically overburdened communities,” says US representative Kathy Castor. This strategy has worked as in the past year, more heat pumps were installed compared to fossil fuel based heating appliances like gas furnaces. This trend, though, is threatened as President Trump immediately enacted a funding freeze, or a pause of all funding, for the IRA on the day of his inauguration. To ensure the incentives don’t disappear, we need a systemic change that supports an equitable future. This means holding elected officials accountable for policies that make sustainable cooling accessible to everyone and not just the wealthy. Contact your elected officials to tell them your story and rally for the importance of this cause. Support or join those in the fight against defunding the IRA, like the efforts at EarthJustice to sue the government on behalf of affected grant recipients. Take action by finding the best fit climate activist organization, like EarthJustice, by navigating the Climate Action Guide's guide page.

Every efficient AC unit installed, every smart thermostat programmed, and every heat pump that replaces an old system is a small act of resistance against the feedback loop that's driving our climate crisis. These individual choices matter not just for our own carbon footprints, but because they collectively shift markets, influence policy, and protect the communities most vulnerable to extreme heat. The children, elderly, and chronically ill populations who bear the greatest risk from heat waves depend on all of us making these changes now and advocating for equity. Breaking the cycle starts with understanding it, but creating a change begins with taking action, one household and one action at a time.