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Advanced cooling challenge

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Electricity demand for air conditioning is huge—and getting bigger every day. For example, the additional electricity demand generated by new in-room air conditioners purchased between 2010 and 2020 is projected to grow to more than 600 billion kilowatt-hours globally by 2020. This growth poses a challenge to electricity grids already struggling to satisfy existing demand.

Goals

The AC Challenge urges governments and industry to develop and deploy at scale super-efficient, smart, climate-friendly, and affordable cooling technologies that are critical for prosperous and healthy societies.

advanced cooling challenge



To foster prosperous and healthy societies. Access to cooling has been linked to improved health, productivity, economic growth, and education.

To achieve energy, development, and climate goals. Improving the average efficiency of air conditioners sold in 2030 by 30% could reduce emissions by up to 25 billion tonnes of CO2 over the lifetime of the equipment, equivalent to avoiding as many as 1,500 average (500-megawatt) power plants.

To strengthen electric service reliability while saving resources. The cheapest megawatt is the one not used. A 30% improvement in air conditioner efficiency in 2030 would reduce peak electricity demand by as much as 340–790 gigawatts over the lifetime of the equipment, reducing stress on the delivery system, avoiding expensive infrastructure construction to meet growing demand, and saving consumers money.