Why The Growing Demand For AC Threatens Hawaii's Renewable Energy Goals
Hawaii residents traditionally built with cooling in mind. Windows were placed to maximize cross ventilation and jalousies let in the breeze.
But with global temperatures rising rapidly – the world just had its hottest July ever – and decreasing trade winds, Hawaii’s residents are relying more and more on what used to be a rare luxury: air conditioning.
“As a kid growing up in Ewa Beach, we never needed air conditioning,” said Shannon Tangonan, a spokeswoman for Hawaiian Electric Co. “Now, you really do need it. It’s almost unbearable. We go as long as we can without turning on that AC, but come noon, one o’clock, it gets to the point where it’s like, OK, turn on the AC.”
In 1970, only 14% of Oahu’s residential utility customers, and 2% of those on the neighbor islands, had AC, according to surveys by HECO.
Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/09/as-ac-replaces-trade-winds-hawaiis-demand-for-electricity-imperils-renewable-goals/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Ok, I have many memories of Sacred Hearts Academy, stewing in sweat wearing my wool school uniform every August/September when the Kona winds came in and stopped the trades dead in the air, but...
The nuns who who taught me were covered every inch, from head to toe in wool, so who was I to complain? The Catholics would call that penance, and God knows, I was overflowing in sin. It was the least I could do!
When I stepped out of the plane at Phoenix airport for my first day at AZ State U and thought, "This isn't so bad!" It was 108 degrees, and I had missed a 1970s record-breaking 117 degrees a few weeks earlier. I wasn't saying "This isn't so bad." the following summer, enrolled in summer school and our AC broke for over a week!
Point is...c'mon folks! We have a planet to save. And the sweltering heat only lasts 2-3 months max! Those toxic AC chemicals have nowhere to go but into the air, polluting the beautiful skies of Hawaii Nei! Do it for Sister Rose Kathleen in her 20+ lb wool habit back then. Or do it for penance! Don't know about you guys, but I've been doing a lot more sinning now than I did back then as a school girl of 17! WHAT? You too? Well then, problem solved! Glad I could help!
