Is having the latest technology a want or a need?
How often do you get a new cel phone or mp3 player? Did you really need a new model? Do you consider the environmental impact of these purchases? If you are addicted, how can you break your addiction?
Wants or Needs? >
Wants vs Needs- Air Conditioning
Air conditioning contributes to 3.94% of carbon emissions, this means that it releases 1,950 million tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere annually. Most people run their air conditioning all day long even when it may not be needed. The people who most commonly do this are upper class families. This idea is supported by the fact that on the worldwide map you can see that predominantly wealthier neighborhoods have higher carbon emissions. This is because this demographic can afford to splurge and run electricity all day. This is compared to those who are more conscious to spend money and refrain from running as much electricity. If people were to consider what they need over what they want, carbon emissions would be reduced as they refrain from running air conditioning all day. People would begin to only use air conditioning when needed and work to cool their houses in other ways. If people were to use the mentality of need over want the overall carbon emission in our world would go down and air conditioning is just one example of this.
Thank you for your statement. Your statement that "Air conditioning contributes to 3.94% of carbon emissions, this means that it releases 1,950 million tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere annually" is an exciting statement. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), air conditioning and the cooling of buildings contribute to roughly 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with a large portion of these emissions coming from refrigerants. The IEA estimates this figure will triple by 2050 if no action is taken. Furthermore, your point that running the air conditioning all day when it may not be needed is a common practice among upper-class families is well supported by research. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California found that wealthier households in the United States tend to have larger carbon footprints than those in lower-income households, with energy consumption being a major contributing factor. This is supported by the worldwide map you mentioned, which shows that wealthier neighborhoods tend to have higher carbon emissions. In conclusion, I think that your statement is very good at highlighting the impact of air conditioning on carbon emissions and the importance of individuals actions on reducing carbon emissions.