Air conditioners consume huge amounts of energy and that’s adding to climate change.

The US uses as much electricity to keep buildings cool as the entire continent of Africa uses for all its electrical needs. And that power largely comes from polluting power stations, adding to the warmer climate.

Air conditioning also pumps heat out straight into the atmosphere. That extra heat makes cities hotter, raising nighttime temperatures by up to 2C (5F), which then encourages people to turn up their air conditioning even higher.

With the demand for air conditioning rising worldwide, it’s estimated that in 30 years’ time more energy could be used for cooling than for heating. And as the climate grows hotter, there’s more need to stay cool. It’s a vicious cycle that generates even more greenhouse gases and soaring temperatures.

Here are some useful home cooling tips from the U.S. Department of Energy:

• Set your programmable thermostat as high as is comfortable in the summer, and raise the setpoint when you’re sleeping or away from home.
• Clean or replace filters on air conditioners once a month or as recommended.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During summer, keep the window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.
• Select energy-efficient products when you buy new cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. See the efficiency standards for information on minimum ratings, and look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing new products.

Learn more about how cold air is heating the world @ The Guardian