
Tempers and temperatures rise, BC report exposes implications of air conditioning
July 31, 2019 | By HPAC Magazine
The use of air conditioning in offices across British Columbia has increased by almost a third in recent years, and temperature tensions among employees and those in control of their office temperature are rising according to Cold War, a report from BC Hydro.
The report states BC Hydro data shows that the use of A/C in offices and commercial buildings in BC has increased by almost a third since 2006, and it is predicted that A/C use will continue to grow over the next few decades, according to a report released by the International Energy Agency entitled The Future of Cooling.
This rise in the use of A/C can be attributed to a few factors including population growth, climate warming, a rise in global incomes and newer more efficient buildings which may lower overall energy consumption, while at the same time make making A/C more accessible.
BC Hydro data indicates that approximately 63 per cent of commercial and industrial customer accounts have at least some portion of their enclosed area space cooled.