4 ms·

It's mostly about the perception that AC is a band-aid that doesn't just stall fixing the root cause of climate change caused by excessive energy consumption, b

by vrganj 4mo ago

It's mostly about the perception that AC is a band-aid that doesn't just stall fixing the root cause of climate change caused by excessive energy consumption, but actively makes it worse.

globular-toast 4mo ago
Why is this "a perception"? It's true isn't it? I'm going to get AC but the situation is quite worrying.
- vrganj 4mo ago
  Indeed. It is true. However, it's not exactly helping if the other side of the pond burns gas turbines to power their AI dreams and tells us to "just get AC bro". AC does make the problem worse, the issue is just that climate change is mostly out of Europe's control.
- Muromec 4mo ago
  It isn't necessarily true. Here (bottom of the sea) it's only hot when the there isn't any clouds, so solar energy that produces the heat is also producing the electricity to run the AC. It's also a misdirection of guilt. It's not the accumulated CO2 from the decades of burning all kinds of shit that is driving the weather, it's your personal AC unit.
  - estearum 4mo ago
    You're describing a very new and not-yet-realized state of affairs where large amounts of power comes from solar. In that world, then yeah obviously the initial concern isn't valid.
    - Muromec 4mo ago
      Not realized? I live in the world where I do have 1 KW/h of solar panels on my roofs and I know some people who have 4 times that. That should be able to run the split system (which I don't have, so I'm not the best informed here). It's fair to criticize this from the social equality perspective, but there are times when the network is saturated with zero emission electricity. But then again, should I also not use the electric oven (I don't have the actual gas oven for the same reasons I have ) after dark when it's not windy?
- xyzsparetimexyz 4mo ago
  How is it true? Even if emissions went to 0 tomorrow we'd still have heatwaves in Europe. It'll take at least a century to do carbon sequestration back to pre industrial levels even on a very optimistic timeline. Until that's made a good amount of progress, it's common sense to have AC in the places where the most vulnerable gather. Their homes, public transport, train stations, hospices, hospitals.
  - globular-toast 4mo ago
    It's not mutually exclusive. I already said I'm going to have to get it. I already use portable AC which are way less efficient and effective than proper split systems. So yeah, we will have to, but it's still unsustainable and snowballing our way to destruction.
deleted 4mo ago
[deleted]
swiftcoder 4mo ago
I think this view is changing as solar adoption takes off in southern Europe. Here in Spain we're in the position that market rates for electricity are often negative while the sun is shining (although these rates are not really passed onto consumers at present). That makes additional cooling load almost a non-issue, and can help incentivise the transition from diesel boilers -> heat pumps, as well as driving the grid upgrades we sorely need to make use of all the solar capacity.
snootypoot 4mo ago
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by vrganj 4mo ago

It's mostly about the perception that AC is a band-aid that doesn't just stall fixing the root cause of climate change caused by excessive energy consumption, but actively makes it worse.

globular-toast 4mo ago

Why is this "a perception"? It's true isn't it? I'm going to get AC but the situation is quite worrying.

vrganj 4mo ago
Indeed. It is true. However, it's not exactly helping if the other side of the pond burns gas turbines to power their AI dreams and tells us to "just get AC bro". AC does make the problem worse, the issue is just that climate change is mostly out of Europe's control.
Muromec 4mo ago
It isn't necessarily true. Here (bottom of the sea) it's only hot when the there isn't any clouds, so solar energy that produces the heat is also producing the electricity to run the AC. It's also a misdirection of guilt. It's not the accumulated CO2 from the decades of burning all kinds of shit that is driving the weather, it's your personal AC unit.
- estearum 4mo ago
  You're describing a very new and not-yet-realized state of affairs where large amounts of power comes from solar. In that world, then yeah obviously the initial concern isn't valid.
  - Muromec 4mo ago
    Not realized? I live in the world where I do have 1 KW/h of solar panels on my roofs and I know some people who have 4 times that. That should be able to run the split system (which I don't have, so I'm not the best informed here). It's fair to criticize this from the social equality perspective, but there are times when the network is saturated with zero emission electricity. But then again, should I also not use the electric oven (I don't have the actual gas oven for the same reasons I have ) after dark when it's not windy?
xyzsparetimexyz 4mo ago
How is it true? Even if emissions went to 0 tomorrow we'd still have heatwaves in Europe. It'll take at least a century to do carbon sequestration back to pre industrial levels even on a very optimistic timeline. Until that's made a good amount of progress, it's common sense to have AC in the places where the most vulnerable gather. Their homes, public transport, train stations, hospices, hospitals.
- globular-toast 4mo ago
  It's not mutually exclusive. I already said I'm going to have to get it. I already use portable AC which are way less efficient and effective than proper split systems. So yeah, we will have to, but it's still unsustainable and snowballing our way to destruction.

deleted 4mo ago

[deleted]

swiftcoder 4mo ago

I think this view is changing as solar adoption takes off in southern Europe. Here in Spain we're in the position that market rates for electricity are often negative while the sun is shining (although these rates are not really passed onto consumers at present). That makes additional cooling load almost a non-issue, and can help incentivise the transition from diesel boilers -> heat pumps, as well as driving the grid upgrades we sorely need to make use of all the solar capacity.

snootypoot 4mo ago

[dead]