Disadvantages of Using Air Conditioner

Though the world is far from experiencing the so called “heat dome”, many people are still prompted to find comfort in the quick and cool breeze of an air conditioner. Still, the way air conditioners work will change over the next few years. Recently, in an attempt to control the utilization of HFCs, representatives from over 200 countries conducted a new environment agreement. Hydrofluorocarbons are the compounds responsible in giving the cooling effect especially on hot summer days. These are found not only in air conditioners, but also in refrigerators. The agreement made to limit HFCs is a huge leap towards saving the environment from the harmful effects of global warming.

The question whether air conditioners contribute to global warming depends on certain factors. If your air conditioner is working properly, no HFCs will be emitted to the environment. HFCs are released if your air conditioners or refrigerators have a leak or when such appliances were improperly disposed. Still, usage of air conditioners is not that safe. Studies show that the accumulated carbon dioxide released by air conditioners in America alone is about 100 million tons each year. People depend more on it, especially in the hottest parts of the country. Nowadays, developers fail to build energy-efficient homes because they are also depending on air conditioners which are readily available in the market waiting to be bought by the public.

The representatives from the countries now take steps to phase out HFCs just like how they eliminated CFCs through the Montreal Protocol. They plan on phasing out HFCs production in 2019 in developed countries, and 2021 in developing countries. They believe that this will cause economic weigh down on the public since air conditioners are foreseen to be more in demand in the coming years. Nevertheless, several companies are now creating on cooling replacements for HFCs. For instance, Ken Gayer, vice president of Honeywell, a company in line with producing plane engines, introduced new molecules so called “Hydrofluoroolefins”. These molecules break down in a matter of days, which gives them less time to trap heat in the atmosphere. Furthermore, Mr. Gayer stated that this will be a good cooling agent for one’s home but it will be more costly and complicated to produce. He also added that working on HFOs were started in 1990s, the moment scientists discovered what harmful effects HFCs are doing to the environment. (Schlossberg, 2016)