When we press the OK button to start the Google search engine, we consume up to ten to twelve times more energy than before (as recently said Radio24). That is, before the arrival of theAI, Artificial Intelligence. With these consumption there will be a climate disaster and the air conditioner will have a lot of responsibility. Here's why. In the general – and depressing – panorama of sales of building technologies, there is a sector that is growing steadily globally, and which, according to the unanimous opinion of experts, will maintain this trend.
This is the gigantic sector summarized in the English acronym hvac, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or “heating, ventilation and air conditioning”. Highly polluting, and will become more and more so despite the adoption of intelligent, highly efficient and ecological engines, gases, systems and software. Those who are worried – even if they smell pyramid schemes – this time are not only the greens, governments, the UN and so on, but also the companies in the rich supply chain (designers, builders, suppliers, retailers, distributors and installers).
From 2 to 5 billion air conditioners by 2050
Meanwhile i USEFULLThe entire sector reaches 280 billion dollars including the entire huge supply chain. The global stock of air conditioners in buildings will increase, according to UN experts, to 5,13 billion by 2050, up from 1,6 billion in 2022, which equates to 10 new ACs sold every second for the next 30 years. But that's a joke compared to the heat that new technology structures will transfer to the environment: regenerative AI, i.e. the technology behind OpenAI's ChatGpt software, machine learning, cryptocurrency mining, and IoT.
Electricity consumption: up to 1.000 TWh in 2026
Many HVAC companies around the world are unsure how they will cope with the colossal heat production emitted by the operation. To realize the extent of these effects, it is good to know that the overall electricity consumption by data center, which reached 460 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2022, is expected to reach up to 1.000 TWh in 2026, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). These are technologically advanced industrial applications for HVAC components and systems for aerospace, healthcare, giant semiconductor “fabs” and data centers, telecommunications….
Heat, the Climate Killer
La electricity shortage and distribution networks will be nothing compared to heat, this terrible killer, destined to accelerate the definite degradation of the climate. heat must be dissipated since exposure to extreme temperatures can lead to costly degradation and extremely expensive failures as well as damage of incalculable social dimension. Heat that a cynical CEO of a consulting firm, Ted Polk of Capstone Partners, recently commented: “This large amount of heat bodes well for manufacturers of advanced HVAC equipment and must be managed efficiently.”
That's why it's a dog chasing its tail
The widespread use of AC systems in buildings is making increase temperatures (in Tokyo, for example, the expulsion of very hot air outside has been prohibited for decades), fueling the climate crisis. And then, the more the heat increases in all the continents, the more The use of air conditioners is growing exponentially. As they say in these cases: it's the classic dog chasing its tail. Furthermore, contributing massive doses of CO02 are the old systems that continue to operate in homes, in collective spaces, in industries, in the tertiary sector...
Air conditioners, more and more M&A
Perhaps the most indicative sign of the expansion of this large sector is theincrease in significant acquisitions, deals and mergers since they concern – as a careful study by Key Capital has revealed – almost exclusively gigantic critical structures installed or to be installed urgently. Total transaction activity in the HVAC equipment sector – the report says – increased by 41,7% year over year, with 34 transactions announced or completed in 2024. And that they are Profitable Operations This is demonstrated by the fact that they quickly generate significant double-digit increases in revenues and profits.
Among the most active operators, the following stand out: Trane Technologies e Amazon. A recent Amazon investment, for example, is a 1.200-acre, 960-megawatt data center powered by a 2,5-gigawatt (GW) nuclear plant (March, $650 million). Ingersoll Rand acquired the Italian company last February Friulair for $146,5 million. Friulair produces dryers, filters, aftercoolers and accessories for compressed air treatment, as well as a line of Chiller products which serves the food & beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. No reference, in the texts of the contracts, to the problems that the new systems may cause technologically. The hypotheses? Overheating, interruptions in electricity supplies, breakdowns and, perhaps, even sabotage.
