You would be amazed to know that about 40% of the world population lives within the hot tropical areas. In such zones, many of them are often exposed to temperatures that are life threatening for about 20 days in a year.
More than 12,000 people across the world succumb to heat waves. Owing to global warming, pollution and other factors,
Earth is heating up, and surges in temperatures are becoming intense.
High heat levels leave the most vulnerable of the populace at the risk of facing ailments and risks of losing lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is of the opinion that more than 2,55,000 people may lose their lives to intense heat waves by 2050.
Yes, access to cooling solutions such as inverter AC may limit the fatalities, but only a few of the people living in tropical conditions have access to it
Only 8% of the total 2.8 billion people residing in the hottest regions of the world have access to a cooling solution such as split inverter ACs. The data is after comparing those of people living in countries like Japan and the United States of America (USA).
India is one of the countries facing the issue. But how does the world’s largest democracy plan to tackle this issue? Let’s find out in this post!
The cooling challenges of India at a glance
India is facing a tough issue – to provide access to a reliable cooling solution to its residents without letting the planet go warm. The heat in India is becoming more intolerable with each passing year – going up to 50 degrees. The range of temperature in Indian cities may also lead to double the deaths from intense to extreme heat exposure. The data for AC ownership in India tells the tale how the situation is here.
Indian households only have a 7% ownership of air conditioners. By 2050, the demand for inverter ACs and other types is expected to drive it to 1 billion by 2050. Across 290 million households in India, lesser than 20 million have AC to put the AC homes count in the figure.
Hence, the demands for cooling solutions will be higher in urban regions owing to the need for a solution to the heat stress issue. What’s more, aspects like population growth, pollution, rising temperatures and more are going to worsen heat stress issue in cities.
With an increase in their income and higher electricity generation, even in rural areas, it will become easier for the middle class in India to buy an AC to match their needs. But they are likely to buy the budget models without considering the emission of devices and their operational costs. It is further going to burden the situation that the country is facing.
How is India looking to avert the energy crisis?
The Indian Government has recognized the need for cooling for people and is also aware that the demand for ACs for cooling is going to be inevitable in the future. But it is also aware that it needs to be done tactfully so that it does not lead to an energy crisis and climate change.
Ahmedabad was the first city in India to come up with its heat action plan after an overwhelming heat wave affected the town in 2010. By June 2017, 17 cities across 11 states seem to have released or still developing their action plans. Indian emerged as the first country to develop a countrywide policy document on cooling in 2019. The action plan has a 20 year roadmap that is expected to address the future cooling needs and thermal comfort of India’s population in a sustainable way.
To do that, green ACs are being developed in India that would have 24 degrees as its default temperature to help reduce emission and energy-saving issues and more.
In coming years, India seems to be on the right track to address its cooling needs without letting the planet Earth go warm.