The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India

This essay explores the problems facing air conditioning in India, including access to air conditioning, high electricity consumption, and greenhouse emissions. The essay also suggests potential solutions to these problems, such as subsidizing the price of air conditioners, investing in localized manufacturing of energy-efficient air conditioners, and using renewable sources of energy.

The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India

The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
Introduction
The most evident impact of climate change is the increase in the average temperatures
globally (global warming) (Anthoff, Tol, & Yohe, 2009). Extreme temperature-related weather
events such as the heat waves are associated with this increase in average global temperatures.
The effects of both the increased temperatures and the heat waves is more prevalent for tropical
countries (Oba, 2014). This results from the fact, taking away the climate change; the
temperatures in the tropics were originally higher than other areas in the world. The location of
the areas in the tropics exposes them to more days of high temperatures; hence, climate change
additionally exposes these regions to considerably higher temperatures for long periods of the
year.
In order to combat the effects of increased global temperatures, relevant international and
regional organizations have initiated and untaken various climate conservation measures. These
measures aim to undo the environmental destruction, which is responsible for the climate change
currently experienced globally. Some of these measures include; reduction of carbon emissions,
preventing further deforestation and undertaking reforestation of deforested areas (Jacobson,
2009). They are in addition to the recommended sustainable approaches to modern living (United
Nations, 2016).
The above measures are however long term solutions to the increased global temperatures
and climate change by extension. There is need for more immediate solutions to address the
current effect of high global (McKibben, 2011). Among the effects of heat waves and high
temperatures are the; deaths, heat stress and reduced economic productivity. These effects affect
the daily lives of people and therefore there is need to develop solutions. Air conditioning
presents an immediate solution for handling the increased global temperatures.
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
India is among the countries that lie in the tropical regions. Coupled with the high
tropical temperatures and the effects of climate change, large parts of India also have harsh
climate characterized by high temperatures. These three aspects makes India more exposed to the
effects of increased temperatures. This essay explores problems facing air conditioning in India,
as well as the possible solutions to these problems.
Problem 1
The biggest problem facing air conditioning in India is the access to air conditioning.
India is the second most populous country in the world, behind China, with an estimated
population of 1.3 billion as of the year 2017 (Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implimentation, 2019). A majority of this high population falls in the low-income class and
hence cannot afford the air conditioners for their homes despite exposure to high temperatures.
In India, air conditioners represent the main form of air conditioning used. In terms of
households, only 7% of the households in India have access to air conditioners (Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implimentation, 2019). This is to imply that due to the high poverty
levels, 93% of India’s population, in need of air conditioning, do not have access to air
conditioning. The continued urbanization of India and the subsequent massive rural to urban
migration has contributed in turning the urban centers across India into heat islands (Karin &
Tord, 2013). The individuals migrating to the urban centers join the low-income class and hence
have no access to air conditioning.
Solution 1
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
In order to address the challenge of access to air conditioning for 93% of its population,
the Indian government should consider subsidizing the price of air conditioners in the country.
By recognizing that exposure to high temperatures is a huge problem in the country, the
government should move on to ensuring that the solutions are accessible and available for all its
citizens (Sneha & Harinarayana, 2016). A critical part of this is in making sure that air
conditioners are no longer luxury products in India. Subsidizing the prices of air conditioners
would make them affordable for all the citizens. A more radical approach would be a
government sponsored free installation of air conditioners for all its 290 million households.
Problem 2
Whereas air conditioners are the most commonly used mode of air conditioning in India,
their electricity consumption presents a concern for sustainability. Air conditioners require
significant high amounts of electricity to operate (Ozgener, 2011). India is currently third in
ranking with respect to electricity production globally after China and the United States of
America (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implimentation, 2019). As of 2016, India’s
electricity production stood at 1423 terawatt hours (Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implimentation, 2019). Despite this, the current electricity production considers the use of air
conditioners by 7% of India’s 290 million households. In order to support a 100% air
conditioners’ use in the country, a significantly large increment in the electricity production is
necessary.
Solution 2
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
Increased electricity consumption is an unavoidable consequence of increasing the access
to air conditioners in India. However, the amount of increase in electricity consumption is
manageable by using energy efficient air conditioners. Encouraging investment into localized
manufacturing of air conditioners provides a potential method of having affordable energy
efficient air conditioners in the country. Currently, the affordable air conditioners tend to be
energy intensive requiring a lot of electricity for operation (Karin & Tord, 2013). The energy
efficient air conditioners in the market currently tend to be more costly and not affordable for
middle and low-income earners in the country (Karin & Tord, 2013). This therefore makes it
necessary to have affordable energy efficient air conditioners in the market by encouraging local
investment into the manufacture of air conditioners within the various states in India.
Problem 3
India’s current air conditioning solution (air conditioners) contribute to greenhouse
emissions. Only the direct contribution to greenhouse emissions is significant presently. The
refrigerants used in the air conditioners are responsible for the release of the greenhouse gases in
this case, either when they leak or during repair (Sneha & Harinarayana, 2016). The contribution
of India to the global greenhouse emissions from air conditioners stands at about 5% currently
(Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implimentation, 2019). This value could exponentially
increase with increase in the usage of air conditioners to cover 100% of households in India.
Increasing the access to air conditioners also introduces the question on the source of the
electricity required for their operation. Electricity generated from coal contributes the largest
percentage of electricity produced and consumed in India (Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implimentation, 2019). Hence, the increased use of air conditioners to mitigate the immediate
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
effect of increased temperatures on the population might undermine the overall long-term goal of
mitigating climate change.
Solution 3
Sustainable air conditioning could be achievable by considering renewable alternatives to
both air conditioning and electricity generation (Karin & Tord, 2013). India should consider
investing in renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar as alternative to the use of coal
for the generation of electricity. This means that increasing the access to air conditioners across
the country would not necessarily result in more carbon emission from the coal powered
generating plants. India should also consider air conditioning alternatives to air conditioners. The
possible alternatives are; ground cooling/heating using ground-coupled heat exchangers (which
utilize underground temperatures for regulating room temperatures) and climate conscious
building practices that enables the use airflow to regulate temperatures inside buildings (Devaraj
& Subba, 2016).
Conclusion
In summary, the three main problems that face air conditioning in India are; access to air
conditioning, high electricity consumption by air conditioners and greenhouse emissions
associated with air conditioners. The preferred air conditioning in India is the use of air
conditioners. However, air conditioners are limited in terms of price, energy efficiency and
greenhouse emissions. To counter these limitations: investment in localized manufacture of
affordable energy efficient air conditioners and the use of alternative sources of electricity
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
generation are possible solutions. In addition, applying a hybrid approach would present a more
sustainable solution. This hybrid approach would involve the use of air conditioners, ground-
coupled heat exchangers and climate conscious architecture.
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
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The Problems and Potential Solutions of Air Conditioning in India
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