Be it the human-induced climate change or the El Nino, record-breaking temperatures have been witnessed earlier in the year.
As per Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), European Union's climate change monitoring service, the world has seen its hottest northern hemisphere summer ever recorded. It is believed that the summer of June to August 2024 was the warmest, and as the heat increases, it seems 2024 will become the hottest year on record. As per C3S' dataset, the summer of 2024 has been the hottest since the pre-industrial period of 1850.
"During the past three months of 2024, the globe has experienced the hottest June and August, the hottest day on record, and the hottest boreal summer on record,” said C3S deputy director Samantha Burgess. She further reiterated how the emissions of greenhouse gas must be urgently reduced, else the weather events and climate change will intensify and lead to disasters throughout the summer.
It cannot be ruled out that human-induced climate change and the El Nino have contributed to the high temperatures earlier in the year. And now beating the heat is becoming imperative. Fortunately, with the advent of technology and even Artificial Intelligence (AI), there have been some major innovations that could make a big difference and help us beat the heat. Take a look at top 10 ways to do so:
Smart Thermostats and Climate Control: With the use of the latest smart one can adjust temperatures automatically, and even control them remotely via smartphone apps. With such available technology, people can focus on efficient energy use and preferred climate control.
Smart Water Management: Technologies that focus on optimising irrigation and water use, including smart sprinklers and water-saving irrigation systems, can be used to keep the environment cooler.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is highly beneficial in predicting and managing climate conditions. For instance, it can gauge heat waves by analysing weather patterns, which can further be used to optimise energy use.
Cooling Wearables: With major advances in textile technology, there are cooling fabrics available that can soak away sweat and help regulate body temperature. These cooling technologies keep the wearer comfortable.
Green Roofs and Urban Cooling: Green roofs covered in vegetation can be highly beneficial in the absorption of heat and further lower temperatures in urban areas. Use of reflective and cool roofing materials can also keep the buildings stay cooler as they reflect more sunlight.
Solar-Powered Cooling: Air conditioning units that make use of renewable energy like solar power can reduce pressure on traditional power sources. They are highly effective in sunny areas where the need for cooling systems are high.
Advanced Air Conditioning Systems: With the development of the latest air conditioning systems, companies are now making use of efficient refrigerants and variable-speed compressors to further cut down on energy consumption.
Evaporative Coolers: The swamp coolers use the evaporation of water to cool the air. They make use of very less energy as compared to traditional air conditioners.
Reflective and Cool Paints: Paints with reflective properties can be put on roofs and walls to decrease heat absorption, which further keeps buildings cooler.
Heat-Resilient Infrastructure: Specially-designed construction materials and techniques are now being used to make heat-resilient buildings that help in stabilising indoor temperatures.
With the help of these technologies, people can manage the heat effects, both on an individual and community level.
