DECRYPTION – The use of air conditioning feeds a vicious circle: very polluting, air conditioners contribute to increasing the outside temperature.
43 degrees in Arcachon, 40 in Castres or 38 in Paris. France is crossed by a wave of stifling heat which forces everyone to seek a little freshness. At home, at work or in a store, the fresh air provided by air conditioners is increasingly present. However, its use is not without consequences on the environment.
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First, because air conditioners are energy-intensive. “These devices require electricity to separate hot from cold. This electricity is mainly produced in gas or coal-fired power stations, which emits greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming.“, describes François Marie Bréon, research physicist and climatologist at the laboratory of climate and environmental sciences.
Then because these machines involve the use of a cooling liquid, a gas at atmospheric pressure which can also emit greenhouse gases. “When the operation of the air conditioner is normal, there is no risk, observe…
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