Air Con Energy Demand

The U.S. uses more energy for air conditioning (AC) than all other countries combined; but its status as the world's largest AC energy hog may soon be in jeopardy.

Several developing countries rank among both the most populous and hottest areas in the world. Use of air conditioning has gone up in these areas, leading to an unprecedented increase in energy demand. Rapid increases in the ownership of air conditioners are already occurring in many developing countries.

As developing countries adopt the energy trends of the U.S we have to become aware of the example we are setting. Residential air-conditioning systems, has already increased by more than 400 percent in the past 18 months and is expected to go even higher.


Now, engineers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., have developed an innovative air conditioning concept that promises to cut electrical demand by up to 90 percent — and it works well in both high humidity and desert heat. The NREL DEvap Air Conditioning concept uses desiccant materials, which remove moisture from the air by using heat and advanced evaporative technologies. The result is a cooling unit that uses 90% less electricity and up to 80% less total energy than traditional air conditioning. 

Countries experiencing energy poverty frequently have hotter climates and more days of sun throughout the year. The DEvap’s ability to run on minute amounts of energy could mean homes relying on solar or alternative energy could have air conditioning with out sacrificing their allotment.

Learn more about the DEvap here