(MENAFN- Swissinfo)
In Switzerland, sales of fans and air conditioning units are increasing, which may contribute to accelerating global warming. AFP
Switzerland is among the countries that will see the greatest relative increase in the need to cool buildings, according to an international study. To beat the heat, more and more people are turning to air conditioning, but there are more sustainable solutions, according an expert.
This content was published on August 7, 2023 - 09:00 August 7, 2023 - 09:00 A journalist from Ticino resident in Bern, I write on scientific and social issues with reports, articles, interviews and analysis. I am interested in environmental, climate change and energy issues, as well as migration, development aid and human rights in general.
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Switzerland has so far been spared the wave of extreme heat that has struck southern Europe, the United States and northwest China, with temperatures soaring above 50°C in some places. But hot weather could also become very hard to bear in Switzerland, especially inside houses and apartments.
Switzerland and the United Kingdom are the countries that will experience the steepest relative increase (+30%) in the number of days of uncomfortably high temperatures, according to an Oxford University studexternal link y published on July 13, which used a global warming scenario of 2°C as a reference. The highest temperatures overall will be recorded in central Africa, but Switzerland and the countries of northern Europe will experience the strongest increase, according to the study.
The research looked at the so-called“cooling days”external link . These are days when the temperature is above the average for the region and during which action is needed in order to maintain a set indoor temperature – usually of around 18°C.
External Content Buildings designed for cold weatherBuildings in Switzerland and the northern European countries are not designed to ensure comfortable temperatures during hot weather and often act like“greenhouses”, according to the study. They are in fact intended to conserve heat during the winter.
As heatwaves become ever more frequent and intense, an increasing number of homes in Switzerland are being equipped with cooling systems such as air conditioners and cooling units. However, installation may require official permission depending on where you live and what kind of cooling system is involved. Although there are no statistics at the national level, the companies that install air conditioners and the large retail sector confirm a growing market since the early 2000 s.
Adapting to sweltering weather with energy-intensive cooling systems may not be the solution however, the study warned. Air-conditioning devices could further increase emissions and“lock us into a vicious cycle” of burning fossil fuels to make us feel cooler while making the world outside hotter, saidexternal link Radhika Khosla , co-author of the study.
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