Whoops, did not mean to write a paper for some niche NS thread but here goes. TLDR: traditional AC is overrated and outdated. It's not hard to stop using it (so much).
twinkle_toesYee I know how AC works I'm an hvac apprentice. So you're concerned about the compressor/condenser fan motor (outdoor fan) producing heat? Those parts of the system are located outside of the building so what's your point?
Also releasing CFCs (older refrigerants) into the atmosphere continuously destroys the ozone layer until those CFC molecules stabilize. That's what makes global warming worse, not the heat produced by the system.
It's pretty fucked up but during the last heat wave in Vancouver temps reached 43 - 49 degrees Celcius (109F to 120F). Now I dunno if you've ever experienced heat that intense before... but it'd be pretty hard to "tough it out" without AC. Temps that high are deadly
The outside of a building is just as important as the inside. I wasn't even thinking about the CFCs and more relevant to today - HCFs. There are a lot of things that contribute to global warming, not just depletion of the ozone layer. An AC trying to evacuate heat into the already hot outside air is very inefficient. If that electricity is not coming from renewables, that's one more source that contributes in this problem but that's a different discussion. And I also understand the usage of AC during those extreme heat waves, but a lot of people will literally turn on the AC at 80F or 90F which is extremely tolerable. For reference, I have never lived in a place with AC and while those 100F+ days are pretty bad, all healthy people should be able to tolerate it. I understand things are different for young children, elderly, and sick people.
The answer is that traditional AC should be installed and used as minimally as possible. Simply designing buildings in better ways is the cheapest and greenest solution. Window placement to avoid sunlight, better insulation practices, specialized room layout, high-heat-capacity material selection, and new paint selections, among others are all highly effective without adding too much expense. More trees planted near buildings also provide shade and perspiration, cooling the building. It seems like trees are planted less and less near buildings and only in park areas. All of these things apply to both residential and commercial applications.
Where it's possible, geothermal HVAC should be prioritized as it exchanges heat with a much cooler mass. Usually the ground they transfer heat to is around 55F or 12C. These systems also integrate heating and cooling into one which solves another issue, heater units' inefficiencies. They last much longer, don't really lose efficiency over time, and can require less maintenance. This is more of a commercial application than for residential use, but those larger AC systems are generally used more and typically to a colder level, so it should be prioritized. Sure it's more expensive and more difficult to install, but it really bothers me that money and effort stop people from trying to make a greener future.
Ultimately, the usage of the system matters more than what system is in place. People definitely can start turning their ACs off when the weather is warm. The ambient office temperature can be 70 instead of 67 and it makes for huge energy savings. And people should close shades, windows, and doors more often. They'll notice their quality of life does not degrade any significant amount, if at all. Society need to stop thinking "cool down = AC" and start thinking of all the other possibilities that enable temperature reductions for a cleaner sacrifice.
