Do You Have to Get Rid of Air Conditioning for the Environment

A recent opinion piece in The New York Times is sparking conversation. The commentary, titled “I Swore Off Air-Conditioning, and You Can, Too”, penned by Stan Cox, argues that ditching air conditioning helps fight climate change. Is Cox right? Should we all be getting rid of our AC units? 

Air conditioners do have a negative environmental impact—most cooling equipment (including your fridge and freezer) sucks up power and contains greenhouse gasses. But is the environmental impact of AC truly bad enough to necessitate living without it? To the relief of all sweaty Americans, the answer is no. 

In a response to Cox, my Reason colleague Joe Lancaster writes: 

“While 90 percent of American households have an air conditioner, the overwhelming majority of its direct greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation and electricity production. Air conditioning accounts for around 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Simply put, it matters much less how often and at what temperature we run the thermostat than how we create the vast majority of our electricity in the first place.”

Advancement of clean power and decarbonization in the transportation sector will make a difference—and we’re getting there! Renewable power sources and nuclear energy comprised 40 percent of American energy generation in 2023. The transportation sector is also seeing the rise of sustainable options like electric vehicles and hydrogen batteries. 

Innovation improves the remaining three percent of cooling’s environmental impact. With the invention of smart thermostats, everyday Americans may improve their energy usage. New cooling systems often implement chemicals that are safer for the environment, are made to be energy efficient, and might use a technique like evaporation. Thus, cooling’s negative environmental impact might be wholly solved through improved technology. 

To be fair, Cox has good intentions and makes a valid case for personal responsibility. We should all take stock of our lives and see where we can live lives friendlier to the planet. However, if you read his commentary, know that you can take it as an opinion instead of a prescription and still live an environmentally friendly life. 

So if you live in the South like me and still have weeks of summer temperatures ahead of you, know that your personal action does help. Use your smart thermostats, and don’t set your temperature any lower than your household needs. But know that your AC use will not kill the planet—the fight against climate change is a whole lot more advanced than that.