Humidity greatly impacts emissions from air conditioning

The environmental impact of controlling humidity in air conditioning may be larger than the impact of reducing temperatures, according to research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
 
According to the IEA, air conditioning was responsible for about 1Gt of CO2 emissions worldwide in 2020. [1] According to a recent study, this figure could reach 1.95 Gt if emissions from the manufacturing and transport of air conditioning equipment are included. [2] While the energy used to power air conditioners has clear implications on greenhouse gas emissions, the environmental impact of controlling humidity is less known.