About episode
I know it’s wintertime for many of you, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore how cities around the world are heating up and how air conditioning is a growing contributor to climate change.
Air conditioning is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, about 20% of electricity used in buildings and about 10% of global electricity use comes from operating air conditioners. With cities heating up and more people able to afford this technology, air conditioning emissions are expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050.
To understand this problem and some promising solutions, I sat down with Matthias Roth and Ran Roth. Matthias is a Professor of Geography and Urban Climatology at the University of Singapore. Ran is the Founder of Sensibo, a startup that’s using data and AI to improve the efficiency of air conditioners around the world. No family relation between the two Roths, but a shared interest in how cities are heating up and what we can do about it. We talk about urban heat islands, how cities are responding, the growth of air conditioning, Sensibo’s solution to making them smarter and more efficient, what else needs attention, and much more. Wherever you are, warm up and stay cool with this episode. Enjoy.
In today’s episode, we cover:
- [03:25] Matthias’ background & focus
- [05:10] Ran’s background & insights into his work
- [07:13] The impact of a heating planet on cities
- [10:28] Why cities heat up more than their surroundings
- [12:36] How cities are tackling urban heat challenges
- [14:20] Unpacking air conditioners’ impact on climate
- [17:48] Sensibo’s solution to growing AC issues
- [20:42] Sensibo’s customers & scale
- [21:52] Impact metrics – saving energy on a large scale
- [23:35] The global rise in demand for air conditioning
- [25:24] Sensibo’s role in curbing AC’s environmental impact
- [27:54] Sensibo’s unique features – geofencing and more
- [29:32] The crucial role of AI in Sensibo’s vision
- [31:22] High-tech excitement & limitations
- [36:12] Identifying gaps in current climate discussions
The impact of a heating planet on cities
Matthias explains that envisioning cities as islands in a warm air sea helps comprehend the impact of a warming planet. As the global air temperature rises, cities experience a dual influence. Firstly, there is the global warming background effect, and secondly, the localized urban heat island effect produced by the city itself. This dual impact poses a significant challenge for city populations.
The consequences of this heightened heat have real-world implications. Biodiversity and ecology are affected, with temperature influencing the growth potential and CO2 absorption of various vegetation types. Cities experience earlier plant blooming compared to non-urban areas due to elevated temperatures. Additionally, the higher temperatures in cities impact the spread of temperature-sensitive diseases carried by mosquitoes, expanding their range and relevance. Diseases like dengue and malaria, prevalent in tropical cities such as Singapore, become more significant with rising air temperatures.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures in cities increase the risk of occupational health problems and heat stress, particularly for vulnerable communities. The combination of extreme heat, high humidity, and poor urban air quality amplifies health risks and mortality rates. Lastly, the thermal environment plays a role in energy consumption for heating or cooling spaces, a key focus of the podcast.
How cities are tackling urban heat challenges
Cities are actively engaging with the challenge of urban heat, and it has become a prominent area of research and discussion. From Matthias’ perspective, when he first arrived in Singapore two decades ago, urban climatology and climate change were not prioritized topics. However, in the past 20 years, particularly in the last eight to ten years, there has been a notable shift. Urban heat has emerged as a key focus for city governments and research activities, with substantial government funding directed towards related research.
Matthias notes that this heightened attention is not uniform across all cities, acknowledging that the impact of urban heat varies. While an urban heat island might have positive effects in cities located in more northern or southern latitudes, it can be significantly detrimental in areas where background temperatures are already high, such as in the Middle East or many tropical cities. Even a slight increase of one or two degrees Celsius, averaged over the entire year, can have substantial consequences for the reasons he previously outlined.
Unpacking air conditioners’ impact on climate
Ran points out that air conditioners don’t actually generate coolness, but rather expel heat outside, contributing to energy inefficiency. As temperatures rise globally, cooling homes becomes more energy-intensive, with air conditioners consuming substantial amounts of energy. The increasing importance of air conditioning is evident in developing economies like India, China, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa, where hot climates prevail.
Despite the environmental concerns associated with air conditioners, Ran acknowledges the essential nature of these devices, especially in urban areas where rising temperatures are exacerbated by the urban heat effect. He emphasizes the dilemma of not being able to advise people to stop using air conditioners due to their fundamental role in providing comfort, especially in regions where excessive heat can lead to societal issues like increased crime.
Ran also raises concerns about the environmental impact of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are greenhouse gases released by air conditioners. These gases, much more potent than CO2, contribute to climate change. Additionally, he notes a positive aspect of the transition to electric air conditioners, contributing to the shift away from gas-based heating. However, he poses the crucial question of how data and technological advancements can be leveraged to make air conditioning more climate-friendly while ensuring people’s comfort.
Sensibo’s solution to growing AC issues
Ran explains the focus of Sensibo on enhancing indoor climates through data and AI utilization. The core of their solution is a controller designed to retrofit existing air conditioners, transforming them into connected and smart devices. Traditional air conditioners, when unconnected, face limitations such as having only one temperature sensor and lacking data on the environment, occupants, or external conditions. Additionally, they possess simple microcontrollers with no memory or computational capabilities.
Sensibo addresses these drawbacks by installing its controller, connecting air conditioners to the cloud and the Internet of Things. This connectivity enables the processing of a substantial amount of data, approximately 1.5 billion data points daily, leading to the execution of 1.3 million actions. The collected data empowers the development of more advanced control algorithms.
Crucially, Sensibo focuses on retrofitting existing air conditioners, recognizing the practical challenges of waiting for all new units to become smart, a time-consuming and costly process.
Ran emphasizes the importance of adapting existing devices, as people tend to replace air conditioners only when necessary. Sensibo is also collaborating with manufacturers to integrate their technology into new models, showcasing a recent significant partnership with Fujitsu. Ultimately, Sensibo aims to revolutionize the air conditioning industry by leveraging available technology to improve and modernize a sector that has seen little change in recent years.
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Matthias Roth & Ran Roth
Connect with Jason Rissman
Keep up with Invested In Climate
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