Trying to keep cool drives up CO2

 

Interesting Washington Post article about how extreme heat is causing more fossil fuel use -- as people try to stay cool.

‘Vicious cycle’: Heat waves ramp up global burning of fossil fuels

"The United States is setting records for natural gas consumption this week at the power plants that keep the nation’s air conditioners humming, according to estimates from S&P Global Commodity Insights. In China, power plants are burning more coal to keep up with electricity needs, helping to feed a record pace in demand this year for the world’s largest source of carbon dioxide, the International Energy Agency said Thursday."

And this:

"Last year, nearly a fifth of the global increase in carbon dioxide emissions came from increased energy demand during extreme weather, the IEA said in March. Its report on global carbon dioxide concluded that summer heat waves were the primary reason that the United States and China, the world’s two largest emitters, did not reduce their emissions for the year. In the United States, gas consumption was the culprit, rising to cool buildings as electricity demand peaked, the IEA said."

There are a few ways to address the problem;  solar power will work when it's hot and sunny.  But it will take years to have enough.

But hot parking lots are a good place to put more solar panels.